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FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 226: Other Socioeconomic Programs › Subpart 226.72

DFARS 226.7202 Policy and procedures.

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 describes a Demonstration Project that allows contracting officers to award contracts to eligible contractors that employ severely disabled individuals. It requires market research to find such contractors, a written justification to limit competition, and an evaluation factor based on the percentage of the workforce that is severely disabled. Contracts awarded under this project count toward DoD's small disadvantaged business goal, but only if the contractor remains eligible when options are exercised.

Applies to: Contracting officers and eligible contractors under the Demonstration Project

What it requires

  • Conduct market research to determine if eligible contractors can fulfill the requirement.
  • If limiting competition to eligible contractors, prepare a written justification and approval.
  • Include as an evaluation factor the percentage of the offeror's total workforce that consists of severely disabled individuals.
  • Verify the contractor's representation (e.g., via System for Award Management) before exercising an option.

Key terms: Demonstration Project · eligible contractor · severely disabled individuals · small disadvantaged business goal · market research

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

The text

(a)(1) Contracting officers may use this Demonstration Project to award one or more contracts to an eligible contractor for the purpose of providing defense contracting opportunities for entities that employ severely disabled individuals. To determine if there are eligible contractors capable of fulfilling the agency's requirement, conduct market research as described in 210.002 and FAR 10.002. For services, see also PGI 210.070.

(2) If the contracting officer elects to use this Demonstration Project, FAR 6.302-5 requires a written justification and approval to limit competition to eligible contractors. In the justification, identify the statutory authority for the Demonstration Project (10 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.).

(b) When using this Demonstration Project, one of the evaluation factors shall be the percentage of the offeror's total workforce that consists of severely disabled individuals employed by the offeror. Contracting officers may use a rating method in which a higher percentage of the offeror's total workforce consisting of severely disabled individuals would result in a higher rating for this evaluation factor.

(c)(1) Contracts awarded to eligible contractors under this Demonstration Project shall be counted toward DoD's small disadvantaged business goal. The contractor must be an eligible contractor when options under the contract are exercised, in order for DoD to continue to receive credit for the contract toward its small disadvantaged business goal.

(2) Contracting officers shall verify the contractor's representation (e.g., by checking the System for Award Management) prior to exercising an option on a contract awarded under the Demonstration Project. Contracting officers may exercise the option if the contractor has represented that it is not an eligible contractor; however, the contract shall no longer be counted toward DoD's small disadvantaged business goal.

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

  • 215.304 Evaluation factors and significant subfactors.

← 226.7201 Definitions. · 226.7203 Solicitation provision. →

Rule changes for DFARS Part 226

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

DFARS 226.7202 Policy and procedures · SpendQuery