DFARS Part 205: Publicizing Contract Actions

In plain English

DFARS Part 205 implements FAR Part 5 for DoD acquisitions, covering how and when solicitations and contract awards must be publicized. It sets special response-time rules, bundling notifications, and award announcement thresholds that affect how contractors find opportunities and how agencies announce awards.

Key rules

• When a qualifying or designated country source requests it and the request is consistent with the Government's requirement, contracting officers must allow at least 45 days for response. (205.203)
• If a competitive solicitation allowed fewer than 30 days for offers and only one offer was received, the contracting officer must resolicit and allow at least 30 additional days, unless an exception in 215.371-4 or 215.371-5 applies. (205.203)
• For a proposed DoD-funded acquisition that potentially involves bundling, the contracting officer must publish a notification of intent to bundle on SAM.gov at least 30 days before releasing the solicitation or placing an order without a solicitation. (205.205-70)
• If the agency has determined that measurably substantial benefits are expected from bundling, the notification must include a brief description of those benefits. (205.205-70)
• Before soliciting a proposal without full and open competition under FAR 6.302-1, contracting officers must follow the procedures at PGI 206.302-1(d). (205.205-71)
• Contracting officers must synopsize certain awards exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold for clothing, fiber, yarn, or fabric items when a domestic nonavailability determination or a chemical warfare protective clothing exception applies, and the synopsis must be published no later than 7 days after award. (205.301)
• DoD must publicly announce contractual actions, including modifications, with a face value over $9 million, excluding unexercised options, and report them to the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs by the close of business the day before the proposed award. (205.303)
• Use the clause at 252.205-7000, Provision of Information to Cooperative Agreement Holders, in solicitations and contracts expected to exceed $1.5 million, except those solely for commercially available off-the-shelf items.

Who does what

In practice

• If you are a qualifying or designated country source, you can request at least 45 days to respond to a solicitation, and the contracting officer must allow it if consistent with the Government's requirement.
• If a competitive solicitation with a short response period results in only one offer, the contracting officer must resolicit with at least 30 more days, giving you another chance to compete.
• Watch SAM.gov for bundling notifications at least 30 days before a solicitation or order, which can signal upcoming consolidated requirements.
• Awards over $9 million are publicly announced, so your contract may be reported to DoD public affairs the day before award.

Common pitfalls

• Do not assume a short solicitation response period is final: if only one offer is received, the contracting officer must resolicit with at least 30 additional days unless an exception applies.
• Do not overlook the requirement to use the clause at 252.205-7000 in covered solicitations and contracts over $1.5 million, except those solely for commercially available off-the-shelf items.
• Do not miss the 7-day deadline for synopsizing certain clothing and fabric awards when a domestic nonavailability or chemical warfare protective clothing exception applies.

Written by AI from this part's codified text (2026-10-04); cited sections are checked against the part. A guide, not legal advice: the regulation text, the solicitation and your contract rule.