FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 15: Contracting by Negotiation › Subpart 15.6
FAR 15.603 General.
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 explains what an unsolicited proposal is and when it qualifies as valid. It matters because it tells contractors the conditions their idea must meet before an agency will consider it for a contract, and it clarifies what does not count as an unsolicited proposal.
Applies to: Contractors submitting unsolicited proposals to Government agencies
What it requires
- Ensure the proposal is innovative and unique
- Ensure it was independently originated and developed by the offeror
- Prepare it without Government supervision, endorsement, direction, or direct Government involvement
- Include sufficient detail to show Government support could be worthwhile and the work could benefit the agency's mission
Key terms: unsolicited proposal · independently originated · advance proposal · known agency requirement · energy savings performance contracts
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) Unsolicited proposals allow unique and innovative ideas or approaches that have been developed outside the Government to be made available to Government agencies for use in accomplishment of their missions. Unsolicited proposals are offered with the intent that the Government will enter into a contract with the offeror for research and development or other efforts supporting the Government mission, and often represent a substantial investment of time and effort by the offeror.
(b) Advertising material, commercial product or commercial service offers, or contributions, as defined in 15.601, or routine correspondence on technical issues, are not unsolicited proposals.
(c) A valid unsolicited proposal must—
(1) Be innovative and unique;
(2) Be independently originated and developed by the offeror;
(3) Be prepared without Government supervision, endorsement, direction, or direct Government involvement;
(4) Include sufficient detail to permit a determination that Government support could be worthwhile and the proposed work could benefit the agency's research and development or other mission responsibilities;
(5) Not be an advance proposal for a known agency requirement that can be acquired by competitive methods; and
(6) Not address a previously published agency requirement.
(d) Unsolicited proposals in response to a publicized general statement of agency needs are considered to be independently originated.
(e) Agencies must evaluate unsolicited proposals for energy savings performance contracts in accordance with the procedures in 10 CFR 436.33(b).
Sections it refers to
- 15.601 Definitions.
← 15.602 Policy. · 15.604 Agency points of contact. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 15
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Parts 8, 12, 13, 15, 38, 44, and 51 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Controlled Unclassified Information ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · proposed 2024-11-29 · comments due 2025-01-28
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Reverse Auction Guidance ↗ · final rule 2024-07-30 · effective 2024-08-29
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Sustainable Procurement ↗ · final rule 2024-04-22 · effective 2024-05-22
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.