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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 9: Contractor Qualifications › Subpart 9.2

FAR 9.205 Opportunity for qualification before award.

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 requires an agency that decides a qualification requirement is necessary to give manufacturers and other potential sources a chance to qualify before award, and to give them enough time to do so when possible. Before establishing the requirement, the agency must publish a notice in the GPE with specified details, and it must keep any list of already-qualified sources open to new additions.

Applies to: Agencies establishing qualification requirements and manufacturers or other potential sources seeking to qualify

What it requires

  • Urge manufacturers and other potential sources to demonstrate their ability to meet the qualification standards
  • When possible, give sufficient time to arrange for qualification before award
  • Before establishing any qualification requirement, furnish notice through the GPE
  • Keep any list of already-qualified sources open for inclusion of additional products, manufacturers, or other potential sources

Key terms: qualification requirement · GPE · qualification testing · potential sources · already qualified

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

The text

(a) If an agency determines that a qualification requirement is necessary, the agency activity responsible for establishing the requirement must urge manufacturers and other potential sources to demonstrate their ability to meet the standards specified for qualification and, when possible, give sufficient time to arrange for qualification before award. The responsible agency activity must, before establishing any qualification requirement, furnish notice through the GPE. The notice must include—

(1) Intent to establish a qualification requirement;

(2) The specification number and name of the product;

(3) The name and address of the activity to which a request for the information and opportunity described in 9.202(a)(2) should be submitted;

(4) The anticipated date that the agency will begin awarding contracts subject to the qualification requirement;

(5) A precautionary notice that when a product is submitted for qualification testing, the applicant must furnish any specific information that may be requested of the manufacturer before testing will begin; and

(6) The approximate time period following submission of a product for qualification testing within which the applicant will be notified whether the product passed or failed the qualification testing (see 9.202(a)(4)).

(b) The activity responsible for establishing a qualification requirement must keep any list maintained of those already qualified open for inclusion of additional products, manufacturers, or other potential sources.

Sections it refers to

← 9.204 Responsibilities for establishment of a qualification requirement. · 9.206 Acquisitions subject to qualification requirements. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 9

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

FAR 9.205 Opportunity for qualification before award · SpendQuery