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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6 sections with “brand name or equal purchase description”

  • FAR 11.104 Use of brand name or equal purchase descriptions.
    …ifications is preferred to encourage offerors to propose innovative solutions, the use of brand name or equal purchase descriptions may be advantageous under certain circumstances. (b) Brand name or equal purchase descriptions must include…
  • DFARS 211.104 Use of brand name or equal purchase descriptions.
    A justification and approval is required to use brand name or equal purchase descriptions— (1) When using sealed bidding or negotiated acquisition procedures (see 206.302-1(c)(2) for justification requirements); or (2) When using the simp…
  • FAR 52.211-6 Brand name or equal.
    As prescribed in 11.107(a), insert the following provision: Brand Name or Equal (AUG 1999) (a) If an item in this solicitation is identified as “brand name or equal,” the purchase description reflects the characteristics and level of qual…
  • FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
    …tional units or replacement items, and only one source is available. (c) Application for brand-name descriptions. (1) An acquisition or portion of an acquisition that uses a brand-name description or other purchase description to specify a…
  • FAR 11.107 Solicitation provision.
    (a) Insert the provision at 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal, when brand name or equal purchase descriptions are included in a solicitation. (b) Insert the provision at 52.211-7, Alternatives to Government-Unique Standards, in solicitations t…
  • DFARS 214.202-5 Descriptive literature.
    (c) Requirements of invitation for bids. When brand name or equal purchase descriptions are used, use of the provision at FAR 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal, satisfies this requirement.

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.