FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 34: Major System Acquisition
FAR 34.002 Policy.
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 states the policy that agencies must acquire major systems effectively, economically, and on time. It directs agencies to promote innovation and full and open competition when developing major system concepts, and to sustain competition between alternative concepts and sources as long as beneficial. For contractors, it signals that major system acquisitions are meant to be competed and that early-stage concept work is a focus area.
Applies to: Agencies acquiring major systems
What it requires
- Promote innovation and full and open competition as required by part 6 in developing major system concepts
- Express agency needs and program objectives in terms of the agency's mission, not specified systems
- Focus agency resources and special management attention on activities in the initial stage of major programs
- Sustain effective competition between alternative system concepts and sources for as long as beneficial
Key terms: major systems · full and open competition · major system concepts · initial stage · alternative system concepts
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
The policies of this part are designed to ensure that agencies acquire major systems in the most effective, economical, and timely manner. Agencies acquiring major systems shall—
(a) Promote innovation and full and open competition as required by part 6 in the development of major system concepts by (1) expressing agency needs and major system acquisition program objectives in terms of the agency's mission and not in terms of specified systems to satisfy needs, and (2) focusing agency resources and special management attention on activities conducted in the initial stage of major programs; and
(b) Sustain effective competition between alternative system concepts and sources for as long as it is beneficial.
← 34.001 Definition. · 34.003 Responsibilities. →
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.