Acquisition of Innovative Solutions:

Using Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs) to Award OTs or FAR Part 12 Contracts

The Acquisition of Innovative Solutions (AIS) course teaches federal acquisition professionals how to use Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs) as a solicitation method and how to determine whether the resulting award should be an Other Transaction (OT) or a FAR Part 12 commercial contract.

AIS is designed for situations where agency needs are clear, but the solution is not fully defined, and the government seeks to evaluate competing commercial solutions rather than prescribe detailed specifications.

Aligned with Executive Order 14265 — Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base

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What This Course Covers

AIS covers the CSO acquisition pathway from start to finish, including:

  • Describing agency capability gaps in plain language
  • Structuring and issuing a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO)
  • Developing suitable selection criteria aligned with agency needs
  • Developing streamlined selection procedures appropriate for CSOs
  • Selecting among competing commercial solutions
  • Determining whether the award should be:
    • an Other Transaction (OT), or
    • a FAR Part 12 commercial contract
  • Identifying required and negotiable terms for each award type

The course emphasizes sound judgment, defensible decision-making, and practical execution, not theory or FAR Part 15–style procedures.

When This Course Is Most Appropriate

AIS is well suited for acquisitions where:

  • The government is seeking commercial solutions, not a predefined design
  • Agency needs are clear, but multiple solutions are possible
  • Requirements are evolving or not fully defined
  • Industry expertise is needed to shape the solution
  • A CSO is a better fit than a traditional FAR-based solicitation

This course complements, rather than replaces, traditional FAR Part 12 training.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain when the use of a CSO is appropriate
  • Describe a capability gap using plain language
  • Develop suitable selection criteria
  • Develop streamlined selection procedures
  • Determine and justify whether an Other Transaction (OT) or a FAR Part 12 contract is the appropriate award following a CSO
  • Identify required and negotiable terms for each award type

How This Course Supports EO 14265

Executive Order 14265 directs agencies to modernize acquisition practices and improve access to commercial and nontraditional suppliers.

AIS directly supports this mandate by teaching participants how to:

  • Use CSOs to reduce barriers to entry
  • Evaluate competing commercial solutions without over-specifying requirements
  • Apply flexible award approaches responsibly
  • Select between OTs and FAR Part 12 contracts based on agency needs and acquisition circumstances

Instructor Contributions

Instruction in AIS includes contributions from experienced federal acquisition practitioners whose backgrounds align with CSO-based acquisition and flexible award approaches.

Hallie Tremaine Balkin

Hallie Tremaine Balkin brings more than 20 years of experience in federal acquisition, defense, and agile contracting. She currently serves as General Counsel at Rhombus and is an Adjunct Professor at The George Washington University Law School, where she developed and teaches a course on Other Transaction Authority. Her experience aligns directly with CSO-based acquisition and award decisions covered in AIS.

Don Mansfield

Don Mansfield is a former Navy Contracting Officer and former DAU instructor who designed the AIS curriculum and teaches across the course. He ensures the material is practical, accurate, and grounded in real-world acquisition practice.

Delivery Options

Virtual Delivery

  • Delivered as five interactive sessions
  • Scenario-based instruction with facilitated discussion
  • Well suited for geographically dispersed teams

In-Person Delivery

  • Delivered onsite over 2.5 days
  • Focused, small-group instruction
  • Flat-rate pricing includes instructor travel

Pricing

Private Agency Delivery

  • $15,000

Pricing includes all instruction and course materials.
Open enrollment options are also available.

Who Should Attend

  • Contracting Officers and Contract Specialists
  • Acquisition Attorneys
  • Program and Project Managers
  • Technical Evaluators
  • Innovation and rapid-acquisition teams

Prepare Your Team to Use CSOs Effectively

The AIS course equips acquisition professionals to use CSOs responsibly, develop appropriate selection criteria and procedures, and make well-reasoned award decisions between OTs and FAR Part 12 contracts in alignment with EO 14265.