From the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy:
In an April 11, 2005, memorandum to federal procurement officials, the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) reinforced the need for federal agencies to comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in writing contract specifications. FAR part 11.105 directs agencies not to write contract requirements so as to require a particular brand name product or a product feature that is peculiar to one manufacturer, thus precluding other companies from bidding.
In the memo, OFPP Administrator David Safavian cited an example in which a federal agency issued a request for quotation for approximately $81 million in office supplies. The requested supplies were identified by a vendor number unique to one large office supply company. OFPP’s reminder followed an inquiry in January 2005 by the National Office Products Alliance, the national trade association for independent resellers, most of whom are small businesses.
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