FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 34: Major System Acquisition
FAR 34.005-1 Competition.
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 requires the program manager to promote full and open competition throughout the acquisition process and to sustain effective competition between alternative major system concepts and sources when economically beneficial and practicable. It also directs broad circulation of notice of the proposed acquisition and says foreign contractors, technology, and equipment may be considered when feasible and permissible. The contracting officer should time solicitation issuance and contract award to maintain continuity of concept development during the transition from a withdrawing concept proposer to a new contractor.
Applies to: Program managers and contracting officers on major system acquisitions
What it requires
- Promote full and open competition throughout the acquisition process
- Sustain effective competition between alternative major system concepts and sources as long as economically beneficial and practicable
- Give notice of the proposed acquisition the broadest and most effective circulation practicable throughout the business, academic, and Government communities
Key terms: full and open competition · major system concepts · program manager · contracting officer · concept proposer
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) The program manager shall, throughout the acquisition process, promote full and open competition and sustain effective competition between alternative major system concepts and sources, as long as it is economically beneficial and practicable to do so. Notice of the proposed acquisition shall be given the broadest and most effective circulation practicable throughout the business, academic, and Government communities. Foreign contractors, technology, and equipment may be considered when it is feasible and permissible to do so.
(b) The contracting officer should time solicitation issuance and contract award to maintain continuity of concept development during the transition from withdrawing concept proposer to new contractor.
← 34.005 General requirements. · 34.005-2 Mission-oriented solicitation. →
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.