FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 6: Competition Requirements
FAR 6.001 Applicability.
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 when the competition requirements in FAR Part 6 do not apply. It lists several types of acquisitions and orders that are excluded from Part 6, such as those using simplified acquisition procedures or placed under certain existing contracts. For contractors, it clarifies that many orders and contract modifications are not subject to the full competition rules of Part 6.
Applies to: All acquisitions, except those listed in paragraphs (a) through (f)
Key terms: simplified acquisition procedures · sole source acquisitions · commercial products · commercial services · contract modification
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
This part applies to all acquisitions except—
(a) Contracts awarded using the simplified acquisition procedures of part 13 (but see 13.501 for requirements pertaining to sole source acquisitions of commercial products or commercial services under subpart 13.5).
(b) Contracts awarded using contracting procedures (other than those addressed in this part) that are expressly authorized by statute;
(c) Contract modifications, that are within the scope of the contract, including the exercise of priced options that were evaluated as part of the original competition (see 17.207(f));
(d) Orders placed under requirements contracts or definite-quantity contracts;
(e) Orders placed under indefinite-quantity contracts that were entered into pursuant to this part when—
(1) The contract was awarded under subpart 6.1 or 6.2 and all responsible sources were realistically permitted to compete for the requirements contained in the order; or
(2) The contract was awarded under subpart 6.3 and the required justification and approval adequately covers the requirements contained in the order; or
(f) Orders placed against task order and delivery order contracts entered into pursuant to subpart 16.5.
← 6.000 Scope of part. · 6.002 Limitations. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 6
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 6, 7, 10, 18, 26, 37, and 41 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs ↗ · proposed 2025-06-12
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Certification of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses ↗ · final rule 2024-12-16 · effective 2024-12-16
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · proposed 2024-11-29 · comments due 2025-01-28
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Certification of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses ↗ · final rule 2024-02-23 · effective 2024-02-23
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.