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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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35 sections with “compelling reason”

  • FAR 6.302-2 Unusual and compelling urgency.
    …a)(2). (2) When the agency's need for the supplies or services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured unless the agency is permitted to limit the number of sources from which it solicits…
  • FAR 9.405 Effect of listing.
    …to subcontracts with these contractors, unless the agency head determines that there is a compelling reason for such action (see 9.405-1(a)(2), 9.405-2, 9.406-1(d), 9.407-1(d), and 26.505(e)). Contractors debarred, suspended, proposed for d…
  • FAR 9.405-2 Restrictions on subcontracting.
    …onsent to subcontracts with such contractors unless the agency head states in writing the compelling reasons for this approval action. (See 9.405 concerning declarations of ineligibility affecting subcontracting.) (b) The Government suspen…
  • FAR 28.203-5 Exclusion of individual sureties.
    …suretyship. (5) Any other cause affecting responsibility as a surety of such serious and compelling nature as may be determined to warrant exclusion. (c) An individual surety excluded pursuant to this section shall be entered as an exclus…
  • FAR 33.103 Protests to the agency.
    …resolution of the protest, unless contract award is justified, in writing, for urgent and compelling reasons or is determined, in writing, to be in the best interest of the Government. Such justification or determination shall be approved a…
  • FAR 52.209-6 Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting With Contractors Debarred, Suspended, Proposed for Debarment, or Voluntarily Excluded.
    … debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment by any executive agency unless there is a compelling reason to do so. (c) The Contractor shall require each proposed subcontractor whose subcontract will exceed the threshold specified in FAR…
  • DFARS 209.405 Effect of listing.
    (a) Under 10 U.S.C. 4654(b), when a department or agency determines that a compelling reason exists for it to conduct business with a contractor that is debarred or suspended from procurement programs, it must provide written notice of the …
  • DFARS 252.209-7004 Subcontracting with Firms that are Owned or Controlled by the Government of a Country that is a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
    …ate Sponsor of Terrorism (MAY 2019) (a) Unless the Government determines that there is a compelling reason to do so, the Contractor shall not enter into any subcontract in excess of the threshold specified in Federal Acquisition Regulation…
  • FAR 3.602 Exceptions.
    …cting activity, may authorize an exception to the policy in 3.601 only if there is a most compelling reason to do so, such as when the Government's needs cannot reasonably be otherwise met.
  • FAR 3.603 Responsibilities of the contracting officer.
    …actor is one to which award is otherwise prohibited under 3.601; and (2) There is a most compelling reason to make an award to that prospective contractor. (b) The contracting officer shall comply with the requirements and guidance in sub…
  • FAR 9.405-1 Continuation of current contracts.
    …ent, or voluntarily excluded, unless the agency head makes a written determination of the compelling reasons for doing so, ordering activities shall not— (i) Place orders exceeding the guaranteed minimum under indefinite quantity contracts…
  • FAR 9.406-1 General.
    …rnment, unless the agency head or a designee (except see 26.505(e)) states in writing the compelling reasons justifying continued business dealings between that agency and the contractor. (e)(1) When the suspending and debarring official h…
  • FAR 9.407-1 General.
    …rnment, unless the agency head or a designee (except see 26.505(e)) states in writing the compelling reasons justifying continued business dealings between that agency and the contractor. (e)(1) When the suspending and debarring official h…
  • FAR 14.404-1 Cancellation of invitations after opening.
    …ade to that responsible bidder who submitted the lowest responsive bid, unless there is a compelling reason to reject all bids and cancel the invitation. (2) Every effort shall be made to anticipate changes in a requirement before the date…
  • FAR 14.404-2 Rejection of individual bids.
    …r debarment, or declared ineligible as of the bid opening date shall be rejected unless a compelling reason determination is made (see subpart 9.4). (i) Low bids received from concerns determined to be not responsible pursuant to subpart 9…
  • FAR 15.505 Preaward debriefing of offerors.
    …ssful offeror as soon as practicable, but may refuse the request for a debriefing if, for compelling reasons, it is not in the best interests of the Government to conduct a debriefing at that time. The rationale for delaying the debriefing …
  • FAR 15.506 Postaward debriefing of offerors.
    …ostaward debriefing in lieu of a preaward debriefing, or whose debriefing was delayed for compelling reasons beyond contract award, also should be debriefed within this time period. (3) An offeror that was notified of exclusion from the co…
  • DFARS 209.405-2 Restrictions on subcontracting.
    …country that is a state sponsor of terrorism unless the agency head states in writing the compelling reasons for the subcontract. (See also 225.771.)
  • DFARS 252.237-7019 Training for Contractor Personnel Interacting with Detainees.
    … of this clause— (1) Prior to interacting with detainees, or as soon as possible if, for compelling reasons, the Contracting Officer authorizes interaction with detainees prior to receipt of such training; and (2) Annually thereafter; and…
  • FAR 33.104 Protests to GAO.
    …ntracting activity, on a nondelegable basis, upon a written finding that— (i) Urgent and compelling circumstances which significantly affect the interest of the United States will not permit awaiting the decision of the GAO; and (ii) Awar…
  • DFARS 227.7203-13 Government right to review, verify, challenge, and validate asserted restrictions.
    …ppeal unless the agency head notifies the person asserting the restriction that urgent or compelling circumstances do not permit the Government to continue to respect the asserted restriction. See 252.227-7019(g) for restrictions applicable…
  • DFARS 252.227-7019 Validation of Asserted Restrictions—Computer Software.
    … decision. (3)(i) The agency head, on a nondelegable basis, may determine that urgent or compelling circumstances do not permit awaiting the filing of suit in an appropriate court, or the rendering of a decision by a court of competent jur…
  • DFARS 252.227-7037 Validation of Asserted Restrictions on Technical Data.
    …oregoing, where the head of an agency determines, on a nondelegable basis, that urgent or compelling circumstances will not permit waiting for the filing of a suit in the United States Court of Federal Claims, the Contractor or subcontracto…
  • FAR 4.2104 Waivers.
    …alf of the entity, seeking the waiver submits to the head of the executive agency— (i) A compelling justification for the additional time to implement the requirements under 4.2102(a), as determined by the head of the executive agency; and…
  • FAR 5.202 Exceptions.
    …02-2 (or, for purchases conducted using simplified acquisition procedures, if unusual and compelling urgency precludes competition to the maximum extent practicable) and the Government would be seriously injured if the agency complies with …
  • FAR 5.203 Publicizing and response time.
    …e for receipt of offers can be extended or whether circumstances have become sufficiently compelling to justify proceeding with the proposed contract action under the authority of 5.202(a)(2). (h) In addition to other requirements set fort…
  • FAR 8.405-6 Limiting sources.
    …2, or 8.405-3, the only circumstances that may justify the action are— (A) An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the procedures would result in unacceptable delays; (B) Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or…
  • FAR 19.810 SBA appeals.
    … the acquisition if the contracting officer makes a written determination that urgent and compelling circumstances that significantly affect the interests of the United States will not permit waiting for a decision. (c) If the SBA appeal i…
  • FAR 19.1305 HUBZone set-aside procedures.
    …unless the head of the contracting activity makes a written determination that urgent and compelling circumstances, which significantly affect the interests of the Government, exist. (3) Within 15 business days of SBA's notification to the…
  • FAR 19.1405 Set-aside procedures.
    …unless the head of the contracting activity makes a written determination that urgent and compelling circumstances, which significantly affect the interests of the Government, exist. Within 15 working days of SBA's notification to the contr…
  • FAR 19.1505 Set-aside procedures.
    …n the appeal, unless the head of the agency makes a written determination that urgent and compelling circumstances which significantly affect the interests of the United States compel award of the contract; (4) Within 15 business days of S…
  • FAR 22.504 General requirements for project labor agreements.
    …ctors or subcontractors. (D) The agency's need for the project is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that a project labor agreement would be impracticable. (ii) Market research indicates that requiring a project labor agreement on …
  • FAR 41.202 Procedures.
    …e record of negotiations, to GSA at the address specified at 41.301(a). Unless urgent and compelling circumstances exist, the contracting officer shall notify GSA prior to acquiring utility services without executing a tendered contract. Af…
  • DFARS 225.7003-3 Exceptions.
    …he use of other than competitive procedures has been approved on the basis of unusual and compelling urgency in accordance with FAR 6.302-2. (5) Acquisitions of items specifically for commissary resale. (6) Acquisitions of items for test …
  • DFARS 227.7103-13 Government right to review, verify, challenge, and validate asserted restrictions.
    …ppeal unless the agency head notifies the person asserting the restriction that urgent or compelling circumstances do not permit the Government to continue to respect the asserted restriction. (7) Multiple challenges to an asserted restric…

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.