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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 6: Competition Requirements › Subpart 6.3

FAR 6.301 Policy.

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 states that contracting without full and open competition is generally a violation of statute unless a specific exception applies. It also requires that any such contract include a reference to the specific legal authority under which it was awarded, and it prohibits justifying noncompetitive awards based on lack of planning or funding concerns.

Applies to: Contracting officers and agencies awarding contracts without full and open competition

What it requires

  • Include a reference to the specific authority under which the contract was awarded without full and open competition.
  • Use the U.S. Code citation applicable to your agency.
  • Solicit offers from as many potential sources as is practicable when not providing for full and open competition.
  • Use the contracting procedures prescribed in 6.102(a) or (b), if appropriate, or any other procedures authorized by this regulation.

Key terms: full and open competition · violation of statute · specific authority · U.S. Code citation · requiring activity

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

The text

(a) 41 U.S.C. 3304 and 10 U.S.C. 3204) each authorize, under certain conditions, contracting without providing for full and open competition. The Department of Defense, Coast Guard, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration are subject to 10 U.S.C. 3204. Other executive agencies are subject to 41 U.S.C. 3304. Contracting without providing for full and open competition or full and open competition after exclusion of sources is a violation of statute, unless permitted by one of the exceptions in 6.302.

(b) Each contract awarded without providing for full and open competition shall contain a reference to the specific authority under which it was so awarded. Contracting officers shall use the U.S. Code citation applicable to their agency. (See 6.302.)

(c) Contracting without providing for full and open competition shall not be justified on the basis of—

(1) A lack of advance planning by the requiring activity; or

(2) Concerns related to the amount of funds available (e.g., funds will expire) to the agency or activity for the acquisition of supplies or services.

(d) When not providing for full and open competition, the contracting officer shall solicit offers from as many potential sources as is practicable under the circumstances.

(e) For contracts under this subpart, the contracting officer shall use the contracting procedures prescribed in 6.102 (a) or (b), if appropriate, or any other procedures authorized by this regulation.

Sections it refers to

  • 6.302 Circumstances permitting other than full and open competition.
  • 6.102 Use of competitive procedures.

Sections that refer to it

  • 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute.

← 6.300 Scope of subpart. · 6.302 Circumstances permitting other than full and open competition. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 6

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

FAR 6.301 Policy · SpendQuery