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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 15: Contracting by Negotiation

FAR 15.001 Definitions.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This section defines key terms used in the FAR part on contracting by negotiation. It explains what a deficiency, proposal modification, proposal revision, and weakness mean, which helps contractors understand how their proposals are evaluated and what actions they can take.

Applies to: Contractors submitting proposals in negotiated acquisitions

Key terms: Deficiency · Proposal modification · Proposal revision · Weakness · Significant weakness

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

As used in this part—

Deficiency is a material failure of a proposal to meet a Government requirement or a combination of significant weaknesses in a proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance to an unacceptable level.

Proposal modification is a change made to a proposal before the solicitation closing date and time, or made in response to an amendment, or made to correct a mistake at any time before award.

Proposal revision is a change to a proposal made after the solicitation closing date, at the request of or as allowed by a contracting officer, as the result of negotiations.

Weakness means a flaw in the proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance. A “significant weakness” in the proposal is a flaw that appreciably increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

← 15.000 Scope of part. · 15.002 Types of negotiated acquisition. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 15

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 15.001 Definitions · SpendQuery