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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 15: Contracting by Negotiation › Subpart 15.3

FAR 15.308 Source selection decision.

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 says the source selection authority must pick a winner by comparing proposals against all the criteria in the solicitation, using their own independent judgment even if they rely on reports from others. The decision must be documented, including the reasoning behind any tradeoffs and business judgments, such as paying more for extra benefits. It matters because a contractor can expect the award to be based on the stated criteria and to have a written record explaining the choice.

Applies to: The source selection authority (SSA) making a source selection decision

What it requires

  • Base the decision on a comparative assessment of proposals against all source selection criteria in the solicitation
  • Ensure the source selection decision represents the SSA's independent judgment
  • Document the source selection decision
  • Include in the documentation the rationale for any business judgments and tradeoffs made or relied on, including benefits associated with additional costs

Key terms: source selection authority (SSA) · comparative assessment · source selection criteria · independent judgment · tradeoffs

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

The text

The source selection authority's (SSA) decision shall be based on a comparative assessment of proposals against all source selection criteria in the solicitation. While the SSA may use reports and analyses prepared by others, the source selection decision shall represent the SSA's independent judgment. The source selection decision shall be documented, and the documentation shall include the rationale for any business judgments and tradeoffs made or relied on by the SSA, including benefits associated with additional costs. Although the rationale for the selection decision must be documented, that documentation need not quantify the tradeoffs that led to the decision.

← 15.307 Proposal revisions. · 15.400 Scope of subpart. →

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 15.308 Source selection decision · SpendQuery