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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 3: Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of Interest › Subpart 3.6

FAR 3.602 Exceptions.

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 allows an exception to the policy in FAR 3.601, but only if the agency head or a high-level designee approves it. The exception requires a most compelling reason, such as when the Government's needs cannot reasonably be met otherwise. For contractors, this means the general policy in 3.601 can be set aside only in rare, high-level approved situations.

Applies to: Agency heads and designees at or above the head of the contracting activity

Key terms: agency head · designee · head of the contracting activity · most compelling reason · exception

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

The text

The agency head, or a designee not below the level of the head of the contracting activity, may authorize an exception to the policy in 3.601 only if there is a most compelling reason to do so, such as when the Government's needs cannot reasonably be otherwise met.

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

  • 3.601 Policy.
  • 3.603 Responsibilities of the contracting officer.

← 3.601 Policy. · 3.603 Responsibilities of the contracting officer. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 3

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

FAR 3.602 Exceptions · SpendQuery