FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 8: Required Sources of Supplies and Services › Subpart 8.6

FAR 8.605 Exceptions.

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 lists exceptions to the requirement to purchase supplies from Federal Prison Industries (FPI). If any exception applies, a contractor or contracting officer does not need to buy from FPI and no waiver is required. This matters because it clarifies when a contractor can buy from other sources without special approval.

Applies to: Contracting officers and contractors purchasing supplies for the Government

Key terms: FPI · waiver · contracting officer · public exigency · FPI Schedule

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

The text

Purchase from FPI is not mandatory and a waiver is not required if—

(a)(1) The contracting officer makes a determination that the FPI item of supply is not comparable to supplies available from the private sector that best meet the Government's needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery; and

(2) The item is acquired in accordance with 8.602(a)(4);

(b) Public exigency requires immediate delivery or performance;

(c) Suitable used or excess supplies are available;

(d) The supplies are acquired and used outside the United States;

(e) Acquiring listed items totaling $3,500 or less;

(f) Acquiring items that FPI offers exclusively on a competitive (non-mandatory) basis, as identified in the FPI Schedule; or

(g) Acquiring services.

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

  • 7.107-1 General.
  • 8.602 Policy.
  • 18.106 Acquisitions from Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI).

← 8.604 Waivers. · 8.606 Evaluating FPI performance. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 8

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

FAR 8.605 Exceptions · SpendQuery