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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 5: Publicizing Contract Actions › Subpart 5.2

FAR 5.201 General.

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 agencies to publish notices of proposed contract actions, generally by sending them to the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE). It matters to contractors because the notice system is meant to improve small business access to acquisition information and increase competition by identifying contracting and subcontracting opportunities.

Applies to: Agencies and contracting officers issuing proposed contract actions, with the notice benefiting small businesses and other competitors

What it requires

  • Make notices of proposed contract actions available as specified in the section
  • Transmit a notice to the GPE for each proposed contract action meeting the threshold in 5.101(a)(1)
  • Transmit a notice to the GPE for a modification to an existing contract for additional supplies or services that meets the threshold in 5.101(a)(1)
  • Transmit a notice to the GPE for a contract action in any amount when advantageous to the Government

Key terms: GPE · proposed contract action · modification · threshold in 5.101(a)(1) · small business access

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

The text

(a) As required by the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(e)) and 41 U.S.C. 1708, agencies must make notices of proposed contract actions available as specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b)(1) For acquisitions of supplies and services, other than those covered by the exceptions in 5.202 and the special situations in 5.205, the contracting officer must transmit a notice to the GPE, for each proposed—

(i) Contract action meeting the threshold in 5.101(a)(1);

(ii) Modification to an existing contract for additional supplies or services that meets the threshold in 5.101(a)(1); or

(iii) Contract action in any amount when advantageous to the Government.

(2) When transmitting notices using electronic commerce, contracting officers must ensure the notice is forwarded to the GPE.

(c) The primary purposes of the notice are to improve small business access to acquisition information and enhance competition by identifying contracting and subcontracting opportunities.

(d) The GPE may be accessed via the Internet at https://www.sam.gov.

Sections it refers to

  • 5.202 Exceptions.
  • 5.205 Special situations.
  • 5.101 Methods of disseminating information.

Sections that refer to it

  • 5.101 Methods of disseminating information.
  • 5.202 Exceptions.
  • 5.203 Publicizing and response time.
  • 5.204 Presolicitation notices.
  • 5.205 Special situations.
  • 5.704 Publicizing preaward.
  • 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
  • 7.107-5 Notifications.
  • 10.002 Procedures.
  • 14.211 Release of acquisition information.
  • 16.703 Basic ordering agreements.
  • 25.103 Exceptions.

← 5.102 Availability of solicitations. · 5.202 Exceptions. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 5

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

FAR 5.201 General · SpendQuery