What does SSB mean in NASA

A Source Selection Board (SSB) is an empowered group of individuals that reviews bids from contractors and makes recommendations to select the best value for a project. The SSB assesses the technical and cost proposals of the respective bidders, evaluates price proposals, and obtains input from other stakeholders as appropriate.

An SSB typically consists of an appointed selection authority or board chair, along with designated technical experts who have experience in the subject area. Generally, each member of the board should have the experience required to evaluate the particular project requirements; this could include detailed technical knowledge or knowledge of pricing models, for example.

Typically an SSB operates in three phases. Initially they define review criteria and generate evaluation points that will be applied to bids received. This should be done before any review process commences so that all bidders are evaluated on a level playing field. Following this, they will review all submitted bids against the established criteria before making their recommendation to accept or reject any or all submissions based on those reviews. Finally, if needed, clarifications can be sought from bidders and additional information requested before making a final decision.

The primary responsibility of an SSB is to ensure that proper procedures are followed during the bidding process to ensure fairness amongst competitors as well as sound financial decisions for the organization in selecting projects for further development consideration. In addition, they must also ensure due diligence when evaluating bids; this includes understanding particulars contained within vendor contracts such as payment terms or subcontractor agreements where applicable.

Yes, although timelines may vary depending on the project complexity and board size it's common practice to assign deadlines for completion throughout certain stages of reviewing proposal documents and reaching key decisions. Typical timelines could range anywhere from one week up to several months depending on circumstances.

In line with what has already been mentioned previously about members being appointed by selection authorities etc., typically meetings would involve various representatives including those from legal teams responsible for ensuring compliance with industry regulations (such as conflict-of-interest disclaimers) through to bargain negotiators responsible for validating pricing models proposed by contractors during bidding processes etc.

As well as evaluating core components such as qualifications/experience possessed by key personnel involved in delivering projects proposed as part of submitted bids alongside value-based metrics such as cost per unit comparisons - given modern procurement protocols there are also increasingly complex measures which might need reviewing such as performance bonds/guarantees desired during contract installments etc.