FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 6: Competition Requirements › Subpart 6.3
FAR 6.302-6 National security.
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
FAR 6.302-6 allows agencies to limit competition when disclosing the government's needs would compromise national security. It cannot be used just because an acquisition is classified or requires access to classified information. Contracts awarded under this authority must have written justifications and approvals, and agencies must request offers from as many sources as practicable.
Applies to: Acquisitions where disclosure of the government's needs would compromise national security
What it requires
- Support contracts awarded using this authority with written justifications and approvals as described in 6.303 and 6.304.
- Request offers from as many potential sources as is practicable under the circumstances.
Key terms: national security · full and open competition · classified · written justifications and approvals · synopsis requirements
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) Authority. (1) Citations: 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(6) or 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(6).
(2) Full and open competition need not be provided for when the disclosure of the agency's needs would compromise the national security unless the agency is permitted to limit the number of sources from which it solicits bids or proposals.
(b) Application. This authority may be used for any acquisition when disclosure of the Government's needs would compromise the national security (e.g., would violate security requirements); it shall not be used merely because the acquisition is classified, or merely because access to classified matter will be necessary to submit a proposal or to perform the contract.
(c) Limitations. (1) Contracts awarded using this authority shall be supported by the written justifications and approvals described in 6.303 and 6.304.
(2) See 5.202(a)(1) for synopsis requirements.
(3) This statutory authority requires that agencies shall request offers from as many potential sources as is practicable under the circumstances.
Sections that refer to it
- 208.7003-2 Assignments under coordinated acquisition.
← 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute. · 6.302-7 Public interest. →
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.