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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 15: Contracting by Negotiation › Subpart 15.6

FAR 15.601 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 three terms used in the FAR subpart on unsolicited proposals: advertising material, commercial product or commercial service offer, and contribution. It matters to contractors because these definitions determine how the Government treats different types of submissions, such as whether something is considered advertising rather than a formal proposal.

Applies to: Contractors submitting unsolicited proposals or similar materials to the Government

Key terms: Advertising material · Commercial product or commercial service offer · Contribution

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

The text

As used in this subpart—

Advertising material means material designed to acquaint the Government with a prospective contractor's present products, services, or potential capabilities, or designed to stimulate the Government's interest in buying such products or services.

Commercial product or commercial service offer means an offer of a commercial product or commercial service that the vendor wishes to see introduced in the Government's supply system as an alternate or a replacement for an existing supply item. This term does not include innovative or unique configurations or uses of commercial products or commercial services that are being offered for further development and that may be submitted as an unsolicited proposal.

Contribution means a concept, suggestion, or idea presented to the Government for its use with no indication that the source intends to devote any further effort to it on the Government's behalf.

Sections that refer to it

← 15.600 Scope of subpart. · 15.602 Policy. →

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 15.601 Definitions · SpendQuery