FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 34: Major System Acquisition
FAR 34.001 Definition.
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 defines 'effective competition' for the purposes of FAR Part 34. It matters to contractors because it describes the market condition the Government looks for when it wants to ensure it receives the lowest cost or price alternative or best technical design meeting its minimum needs.
Applies to: Contractors competing for Government business under FAR Part 34
Key terms: effective competition · lowest cost or price alternative · best technical design · minimum needs
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
Effective competition, as used in this part, is a market condition that exists when two or more contractors, acting independently, actively contend for the Government's business in a manner that ensures that the Government will be offered the lowest cost or price alternative or best technical design meeting its minimum needs.
Sections that refer to it
- 48.102 Policies.
← 34.000 Scope of part. · 34.002 Policy. →
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.