FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 35: Research and Development Contracting
FAR 35.008 Evaluation for award.
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 explains how R&D contracts should be evaluated for award. It says awards should go to the organization with the best ideas and highest competence in the relevant field, but not for capabilities beyond what the work needs. It also covers small business responsibility, debriefings, and cost or price evaluation.
Applies to: Contracting officers awarding R&D contracts
What it requires
- Follow the SBA Certificate of Competency procedure when a small business would otherwise be selected but is considered not responsible
- Use the procedures in subpart 15.5 to notify and debrief offerors
Key terms: R&D contract · contracting officer · solicitation evaluation factors · small business concern · SBA Certificate of Competency
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) Generally, an R&D contract should be awarded to that organization, including any educational institution, that proposes the best ideas or concepts and has the highest competence in the specific field of science or technology involved. However, an award should not be made to obtain capabilities that exceed those needed for successful performance of the work.
(b) In R&D contracting, precise specifications are ordinarily not available. The contracting officer should therefore take special care in reviewing the solicitation evaluation factors to assure that they are properly presented and consistent with the solicitation.
(c) When a small business concern would otherwise be selected for award but is considered not responsible, the SBA Certificate of Competency procedure shall be followed (see subpart 19.6).
(d) The contracting officer should use the procedures in subpart 15.5 to notify and debrief offerors.
(e) It is important to evaluate a proposed contractor's cost or price estimate, not only to determine whether the estimate is reasonable but also to provide valuable insight into the offeror's understanding of the project, perception of risks, and ability to organize and perform the work. Cost or price analysis, as appropriate (see 15.404-1(c)), is a useful tool.
Sections it refers to
- 15.404-1 Proposal analysis techniques.
← 35.007 Solicitations. · 35.009 Subcontracting research and development effort. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 35
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.