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48 CFR · Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense supplement

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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.

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31 sections with “alternative sources”

  • FAR 6.202 Establishing or maintaining alternative sources.
    …y exclude a particular source from a contract action in order to establish or maintain an alternative source or sources for the supplies or services being acquired if the agency head determines that to do so would— (1) Increase or maintain…
  • DFARS 206.202 Establishing or maintaining alternative sources.
    (a) Agencies may use this authority to totally or partially exclude a particular source from a contract action. (b) The determination and findings (D&F) and the documentation supporting the D&F shall identify the source to be excluded from…
  • DFARS 218.203 Emergency declaration or major disaster declaration.
    (1) Establishing or maintaining alternative sources. PGI contains a sample format for Determination and Findings citing the authority of FAR 6.202(a), regarding exclusion of a particular source in order to establish or maintain an alternati…
  • FAR 2.101 Definitions.
    …ering the foregoing services, outputs may take the form of information, advice, opinions, alternatives, analyses, evaluations, recommendations, training and the day-to-day aid of support personnel needed for the successful performance of on…
  • FAR 15.203 Requests for proposals.
    …tions that will apply to the contract. The solicitation may authorize offerors to propose alternative terms and conditions. If the solicitation permits offerors to submit one or more additional proposals with alternative line items (see 52.…
  • FAR 35.017-2 Establishing or changing an FFRDC.
    …ange its basic purpose and mission, the sponsor shall ensure the following: (a) Existing alternative sources for satisfying agency requirements cannot effectively meet the special research or development needs. (b) The notices required fo…
  • FAR 35.017-4 Reviewing FFRDC's.
    …the FFRDC to determine if and at what level they continue to exist. (2) Consideration of alternative sources to meet the sponsor's needs. (3) An assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of the FFRDC in meeting the sponsor's needs, i…
  • FAR 48.104-4 Sharing alternative—no-cost settlement method.
    In selecting an appropriate mechanism for incorporating a VECP into a contract, the contracting officer shall analyze the different approaches available to determine which one would be in the Government's best interest. Contracting officers…
  • DFARS 222.101-70 Acquisition of stevedoring services during labor disputes.
    …s able to provide necessary stevedoring services. (3) Consider contracting with reliable alternative sources of supply within the stevedoring industry. (4) Utilize civil service stevedores to perform the work performed by contract stevedo…
  • DFARS 227.7203-2 Acquisition of other than commercial computer software and computer software documentation and associated rights.
    …lation environments; and (D) Sustain and support the software over its life cycle. (ii) Alternatives to delivery of source code and related software design details. The assessment of life-cycle needs should consider alternatives to the de…
  • FAR 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services.
    …re any court, administrative tribunal, or agency, or (B) Participating in any part of an alternative dispute resolution process, including but not limited to evaluators, fact finders, or witnesses, regardless of whether the expert is expec…
  • FAR 7.105 Contents of written acquisition plans.
    …ze the technical and contractual history of the acquisition. Discuss feasible acquisition alternatives, the impact of prior acquisitions on those alternatives, and any related in-house effort. (2) Applicable conditions. State all significa…
  • FAR 15.404-1 Proposal analysis techniques.
    … task or delivery order, the contracting officer shall— (i) Consider the availability of alternative contract vehicles and the feasibility of contracting directly with a subcontractor or subcontractors that will perform the bulk of the wor…
  • FAR 39.205 Exemptions.
    … that best meets the ICT accessibility standards consistent with the agency's needs. (b) Alternative means of access. An agency shall provide individuals with disabilities access to and use of information and data by an alternative means t…
  • DFARS 223.7104 Exceptions.
    …or Federal, State, or local law enforcement in storing or disposing of explosives when no alternative solution is available, if such storage or disposal is made in accordance with an agreement between the Secretary of Defense and the head o…
  • DFARS 252.204-7012 Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting.
    …udicated by an authorized representative of the DoD CIO to be nonapplicable or to have an alternative, but equally effective, security measure that may be implemented in its place. (C) If the DoD CIO has previously adjudicated the contract…
  • DFARS 252.226-7003 Drug-Free Work Force.
    … this clause defines criteria for such a program, contractors are encouraged to implement alternative approaches comparable to the criteria in paragraph (c) that are designed to achieve the objectives of this clause. (c) Contractor program…
  • FAR 3.104-1 Definitions.
    … committees that review program milestones or evaluate and make recommendations regarding alternative technologies or approaches for satisfying broad agency-level missions or objectives. (ii) The performance of general, technical, engineer…
  • FAR 4.2301 Definitions.
    …ered article; (6) Vulnerability of Federal systems, programs, or facilities; (7) Market alternatives to the covered source; (8) Potential impact or harm caused by the possible loss, damage, or compromise of a product, material, or servic…
  • FAR 7.401 Acquisition considerations.
    …sed and the extent of use within that period; (ii) Financial and operating advantages of alternative types and makes of equipment; (iii) Cumulative rent, lease, or other periodic payments, however described, for the estimated period of us…
  • FAR 10.002 Procedures.
    …icient; (vi) The distribution and support capabilities of potential suppliers, including alternative arrangements and cost estimates; and (vii) Whether the Government's needs can be met by small business concerns that will likely submit a…
  • FAR 15.102 Oral presentations.
    …In considering the costs of oral presentations, contracting officers should also consider alternatives to on-site oral presentations (e.g., teleconferencing, video teleconferencing). (d) When oral presentations are required, the solicitati…
  • FAR 31.205-33 Professional and consultant service costs.
    …l and consultant services are generally acquired to obtain information, advice, opinions, alternatives, conclusions, recommendations, training, or direct assistance, such as studies, analyses, evaluations, liaison with Government officials,…
  • FAR 34.002 Policy.
    …ed in the initial stage of major programs; and (b) Sustain effective competition between alternative system concepts and sources for as long as it is beneficial.
  • FAR 34.005-1 Competition.
    …tion process, promote full and open competition and sustain effective competition between alternative major system concepts and sources, as long as it is economically beneficial and practicable to do so. Notice of the proposed acquisition s…
  • FAR 34.005-2 Mission-oriented solicitation.
    …eror is free to propose its own technical approach, main design features, subsystems, and alternatives to schedule, cost, and capability goals. (6) Require the use of an Earned Value Management System that complies with the guidelines of E…
  • FAR 35.007 Solicitations.
    …). (h) If it is appropriate to do so, solicitations should permit offerors to propose an alternative contract type (see 16.103). (i) In circumstances when a concern has a new idea or product to discuss that incorporates the results of ind…
  • FAR 41.201 Policy.
    …state statute, state regulation, or state-approved territorial agreements. Proposals from alternative electric suppliers shall provide a representation that service can be provided in a manner consistent with section 8093 of Public Law 100-…
  • FAR 41.202 Procedures.
    …rming a market survey (see 7.101), the contracting officer shall consider, in addition to alternative competitive sources, use of the following: (1) GSA areawide contracts (see 41.204); (2) Separate contracts (see 41.205); and (3) Intera…
  • FAR 52.223-3 Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data.
    …ith the packing list or other suitable shipping document which accompanies each shipment. Alternatively, the Contractor is permitted to transmit MSDS's to consignees in advance of receipt of shipments by consignees, if authorized in writing…
  • DFARS 227.7103-5 Government rights.
    …ional rights. Prior to negotiating for additional rights in limited rights data, consider alternatives such as— (i) Using performance specifications and form, fit, and function data to acquire or develop functionally equivalent items, comp…

FAR (chapter 1)

DFARS (chapter 2, Defense)

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Rule changes in progress: FAR, DFARS. Terms: glossary.