**SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FUTURE USE OF ELECTRONIC FILE DROP SERVICES***

On 20 August 2021, the Principal Director, Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC), issued a memorandum recommending contracting offices transition to using the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) Solicitation Module as the exclusive tool for electronic processing of data and documents in the Procure-to-Pay environment.  As a result, USACE contracting offices that are currently using other file drop services (e.g., DoD SAFE) are beginning to discontinue the use of these tools and beginning to transition to the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) Solicitation Module.  This capability allows USACE to have a more automated and secure process for capturing solicitations and their attachments and responses from industry.

PIEE’s Solicitation Module enables posting of solicitations to a widespread or restricted audience. This includes the ability to post draft or final solicitations, amendments, and attachments. Government users can designate either the entire solicitation or specific attachments as limited to use by specific companies. Contractors are able to submit their proposals via the portal, and contracting personnel are then able to use the portal to distribute proposals to reviewers.

In preparation for full implementation of the PIEE Solicitation Module, we recommend that all Contractors doing business with USACE access the PIEE Solicitation Module Vendor Access Instructions (https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/pdi/eb/docs/PIEE/PIEE_Solicitation_Module_Vendor_Access_Instructions.pdf) and either self-register for a PIEE account and add the appropriate roles, or for existing PIEE users, access their account and add additional roles.  There are two vendor roles (Proposal Manager, Proposal View Only) for the PIEE Solicitation Module. The Proposal Manager role is required to submit an offer to a solicitation posted in the PIEE Solicitation Module.  Further details are provided not only in the Vendor Access Instructions but also via PIEE's Web Based Training module (https://pieetraining.eb.mil/wbt) under the “Award” heading and “Solicitation” link (https://pieetraining.eb.mil/wbt/xhtml/wbt/sol/index.xhtml).  In addition, please be advised that when using the PIEE Solicitation Module, the user’s e-mail address in PIEE must match the e-mail address on file in SAM.gov.

Specific instructions on offer submission using the PIEE Solicitation Module will be included in solicitations that require the use of said tool.  The purpose of this special note is to alert potential Contractors of upcoming changes in USACE’s electronic submission process and ensure they are not only registered in PIEE but also have the appropriate roles.