Source Selection Advisory Council (SSAC)

The SSAC represents the senior oversight layer in large DoD source selection processes, adding an independent check on evaluation findings before the Source Selection Authority makes a final award decision. Its involvement signals that an acquisition is complex, high-value, or strategically significant.

What is the SSAC?

The Source Selection Advisory Council is a body of senior government officials established for significant competitive acquisitions, particularly those at the Acquisition Category (ACAT) I and II levels. The SSAC is separate from the Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB), which is the team of evaluators who score proposals against defined criteria. The SSAC's role is to review the SSEB's evaluation findings, assess whether the evaluation was conducted in accordance with the solicitation's stated evaluation criteria, and prepare an independent advisory report for the Source Selection Authority (SSA), who is typically the agency head or a senior program official. The SSAC also advises on competitive range determinations, identifies any weaknesses in the evaluation process, and can recommend clarifications or discussions before a final award. In very large programs such as major weapons systems, the SSAC may include general officers, senior executive service members, or equivalent-level officials whose stature matches the strategic importance of the program.

Why the SSAC matters for government contractors

Understanding that the SSAC exists and reviews evaluation findings before award helps contractors appreciate why the protest grounds they may raise (for example, an agency's failure to follow its stated evaluation criteria) are taken seriously. The SSAC's presence also signals that award decisions on major programs have been through multiple layers of review, making protests based on alleged procedural shortcuts more difficult.

Example

A defense contractor competes for a $2 billion Army command and control system. After proposal submission, the contractor learns through public announcements that an SSAC has been established for the program. The contractor's proposal team knows this means the evaluation will be scrutinized at the most senior level, reinforcing the importance of having submitted technically rigorous and compliant proposal volumes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the SSAC required for all federal procurements?

No. The SSAC is established for high-value, complex acquisitions, primarily major defense programs. Routine competitive acquisitions rely on the SSEB alone, without an SSAC layer.

What is the difference between the SSAC and the SSEB?

The SSEB (Source Selection Evaluation Board) evaluates proposals against the criteria. The SSAC reviews the SSEB's work and advises the SSA. The SSAC does not score proposals; it reviews the scoring process and findings.

Who is the Source Selection Authority?

The SSA is the official with ultimate decision-making authority for the contract award. For major programs, this is typically the agency's acquisition executive. The SSA is informed by but not bound by the SSAC's advisory report.

Does the contractor know who is on the SSAC?

SSAC membership is typically not publicly disclosed to contractors to prevent any appearance of improper influence or contact with evaluation personnel.

Can an SSAC finding affect my award?

Yes. If the SSAC determines that the SSEB's evaluation was procedurally flawed or inconsistent with stated criteria, it can recommend a reevaluation, a different competitive range determination, or other corrective actions before the SSA makes an award decision.