SpendQueryBeta

FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.2

FAR 52.211-7 Alternatives to Government-unique standards.

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 solicitation provision tells offerors that the Government has included Government-unique standards, but an offeror may propose voluntary consensus standards as alternatives if they meet the Government's requirements. The Government decides whether to accept an alternative, and offers that don't comply with the Government-unique standards may be found nonresponsive or unacceptable.

Applies to: Offerors responding to a solicitation that includes Government-unique standards

What it requires

  • If proposing an alternative standard, furnish data and/or information about it in sufficient detail for the Government to determine whether it meets the Government's requirements

Key terms: Government-unique standards · voluntary consensus standards · offeror · solicitation · nonresponsive or unacceptable

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

The text

As prescribed in 11.107(b), insert the following provision:

Alternatives to Government-Unique Standards (NOV 1999)

(a) This solicitation includes Government-unique standards. The offeror may propose voluntary consensus standards that meet the Government's requirements as alternatives to the Government-unique standards. The Government will accept use of the voluntary consensus standard instead of the Government-unique standard if it meets the Government's requirements unless inconsistent with law or otherwise impractical.

(b) If an alternative standard is proposed, the offeror must furnish data and/or information regarding the alternative in sufficient detail for the Government to determine if it meets the Government's requirements. Acceptance of the alternative standard is a unilateral decision made solely at the discretion of the Government.

(c) Offers that do not comply with the Government-unique standards specified in this solicitation may be determined to be nonresponsive or unacceptable. The offeror may submit an offer that complies with the Government-unique standards specified in this solicitation, in addition to any proposed alternative standard(s).

(End of provision)

Sections it refers to

  • 11.107 Solicitation provision.

Sections that refer to it

← 52.211-6 Brand name or equal. · 52.211-8 Time of Delivery. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 52

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

FAR 52.211-7 Alternatives to Government-unique standards · SpendQuery