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

FAR 6.302-7 Public interest.

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 allows an agency to skip full and open competition if the agency head determines it is not in the public interest for a specific acquisition. It can only be used when no other exception in 6.302 applies, and it requires a written determination by a very senior official, with advance notice to Congress.

Applies to: Agency heads and contracting officers in acquisitions where no other exception to full and open competition applies.

What it requires

  • The agency head must make a written determination that full and open competition is not in the public interest.
  • Congress must be notified in writing at least 30 days before contract award.
  • If required by the agency head, the contracting officer must prepare a justification to support the determination.
  • The determination must not be made on a class basis.

Key terms: full and open competition · agency head · public interest · determination and finding (D & F) · class basis

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)(7)or 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(7).

(2) Full and open competition need not be provided for when the agency head determines that it is not in the public interest in the particular acquisition concerned.

(b) Application. This authority may be used when none of the other authorities in 6.302 apply.

(c) Limitations. (1) A written determination to use this authority shall be made in accordance with subpart 1.7, by (i) the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard, or the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; or (ii) the head of any other executive agency. This authority may not be delegated.

(2) The Congress shall be notified in writing of such determination not less than 30 days before award of the contract.

(3) If required by the head of the agency, the contracting officer shall prepare a justification to support the determination under paragraph (c)(1) above.

(4) This Determination and Finding (D & F) shall not be made on a class basis.

Sections it refers to

  • 6.302 Circumstances permitting other than full and open competition.

Sections that refer to it

  • 5.202 Exceptions.
  • 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
  • 6.303-1 Requirements.
  • 6.304 Approval of the justification.

← 6.302-6 National security. · 6.303 Justifications. →

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 6.302-7 Public interest · SpendQuery