FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 206: Competition Requirements › Subpart 206.3
DFARS 206.302-5 Authorized or required by statute.
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 DFARS section allows agencies to use the authority of a statute to acquire certain supplies and services, such as from military exchange stores or local governments for base closures. It also sets limits on using this authority for awards to colleges or universities for research and development or construction, requiring specific statutory language and congressional notification. Contractors should understand that this authority is only available when authorized or required by statute and is subject to these restrictions.
Applies to: Department of Defense contracting activities and contractors
What it requires
- Contracting activities must submit a draft notice of intent with supporting documentation through channels to the Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment).
- The contract cannot be awarded until 180 days have elapsed since the date Congress received the notice of intent to award.
- Contracting officers should consult legal counsel on a case-by-case basis.
Key terms: military exchange stores · soft drinks · Pilot Program to Incentivize Contracting with Employee-Owned Businesses · 10 U.S.C. 4141 · notice of intent to award
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(b) Application. Agencies may use this authority to—
(i) Acquire supplies and services from military exchange stores outside the United States for use by the armed forces outside the United States in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2424(a) and subject to the limitations of 10 U.S.C. 2424(b). The limitations of 10 U.S.C. 2424(b)(1) and (2) do not apply to the purchase of soft drinks that are manufactured in the United States. For the purposes of 10 U.S.C. 2424, soft drinks manufactured in the United States are brand name carbonated sodas, manufactured in the United States, as evidenced by product markings.
(ii) Acquire police, fire protection, airfield operation, or other community services from local governments at military installations to be closed under the circumstances in 237.7401 (section 2907 of Fiscal Year 1994 Defense Authorization Act (Pub. L. 103-160)).
(iii) Acquire products and services under the Pilot Program to Incentivize Contracting with Employee-Owned Businesses (see subpart 270.1).
(c) Limitations. (i) 10 U.S.C. 4141 precludes use of this exception for awards to colleges or universities for the performance of research and development, or for the construction of any research or other facility, unless—
(A) The statute authorizing or requiring award specifically—
(1) States that the statute modifies or supersedes the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 4141;
(2) Identifies the particular college or university involved; and
(3) States that award is being made in contravention of 10 U.S.C. 4141(a); and
(B) The Secretary of Defense provides Congress written notice of intent to award. The contract cannot be awarded until 180 days have elapsed since the date Congress received the notice of intent to award. Contracting activities must submit a draft notice of intent with supporting documentation through channels to the Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment).
(ii) The limitation in paragraph (c)(i) of this section applies only if the statute authorizing or requiring award was enacted after September 30, 1989.
(iii) Subsequent statutes may provide different or additional constraints on the award of contracts to specified colleges and universities. Contracting officers should consult legal counsel on a case-by-case basis.
← 206.302-4 International agreement. · 206.302-7 Public interest. →
Rule changes for DFARS Part 206
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds (DFARS Case 2024-D002) ↗ · proposed 2025-01-17 · comments due 2025-03-18
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2025-01-17 · effective 2025-01-17
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Pilot Program To Incentivize Contracting With Employee-Owned Businesses (DFARS Case 2024-D004) ↗ · final rule 2024-10-10 · effective 2024-11-25
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Modification of Prize Authority for Advanced Technology Achievements (DFARS Case 2022-D014) ↗ · final rule 2024-09-26 · effective 2024-10-01
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-07-29 · effective 2024-07-29
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Pilot Program To Incentivize Contracting With Employee-Owned Businesses (DFARS Case 2024-D004) ↗ · proposed 2024-05-30 · comments due 2024-07-29
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Modification of Prize Authority for Advanced Technology Achievements (DFARS Case 2022-D014) ↗ · proposed 2024-04-25 · comments due 2024-06-24
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.