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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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81 sections with “competitive basis”: the first 40

  • FAR 6.401 Sealed bidding and competitive proposals.
    Sealed bidding and competitive proposals, as described in parts 14 and 15, are both acceptable procedures for use under subparts 6.1, 6.2; and, when appropriate, under subpart 6.3. (a) Sealed bids. (See part 14 for procedures.) Contracting…
  • FAR 7.106 Additional requirements for major systems.
    …le from more than one source; and (2) Items which the Government will be able to acquire competitively in the future if they are likely to be needed in substantial quantities during the system's service life. (b) In planning for the solic…
  • FAR 19.805-1 General.
    … codes and $5.5 million for all other acquisitions. (b) Where an acquisition exceeds the competitive threshold (see paragraph (a)(2) of this section), the SBA may accept the requirement for a sole source 8(a) award if— (1) There is not a …
  • DFARS 207.106 Additional requirements for major systems.
    … or production of major systems that would enable the Government to use technical data to competitively reprocure identical items or components of the system if the item or component were developed exclusively at private expense, unless the…
  • FAR 2.101 Definitions.
    …uct was developed exclusively at private expense and sold in substantial quantities, on a competitive basis, to multiple State and local governments or to multiple foreign governments. Commercial service means— (1) Installation services, …
  • FAR 13.203 Purchase guidelines.
    …uitably among qualified suppliers. (2) Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive quotations if the contracting officer or individual appointed in accordance with 1.603-3(b) considers the price to be reasonable. (3) The…
  • FAR 15.404-1 Proposal analysis techniques.
    …ignificant inconsistencies that warrant additional pricing inquiry. (iv) Comparison with competitive published price lists, published market prices of commodities, similar indexes, and discount or rebate arrangements. (v) Comparison of pr…
  • FAR 15.503 Notifications to unsuccessful offerors.
    (a) Preaward notices—(1) Preaward notices of exclusion from competitive range. The contracting officer shall notify offerors promptly in writing when their proposals are excluded from the competitive range or otherwise eliminated from the c…
  • FAR 52.244-5 Competition in Subcontracting.
    …ing (AUG 2024) (a) The Contractor shall select subcontractors (including suppliers) on a competitive basis to the maximum practical extent consistent with the objectives and requirements of the contract. (b) If the Contractor is an approv…
  • DFARS 213.501 Special documentation requirements.
    (a)(i) Sole source (including brand name) acquisitions. For noncompetitive follow-on acquisitions of supplies or services previously awarded on a noncompetitive basis, include the additional documentation required by PGI 206.303-2(b)(i) and…
  • FAR 8.405-1 Ordering procedures for supplies, and services not requiring a statement of work.
    …rders exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (1) Each order shall be placed on a competitive basis in accordance with (d)(2) and (3) of this section, unless this requirement is waived on the basis of a justification that is prepare…
  • FAR 8.405-2 Ordering procedures for services requiring a statement of work.
    …(c)(2)(i) and (iii), the following procedures apply: (i) Each order shall be placed on a competitive basis in accordance with (c)(3)(ii) and (iii) of this section, unless this requirement is waived on the basis of a justification that is p…
  • FAR 9.505-2 Preparing specifications or work statements.
    …es and furnishes complete specifications covering nondevelopmental items, to be used in a competitive acquisition, that contractor shall not be allowed to furnish these items, either as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor, for a reason…
  • FAR 16.202-2 Application.
    …ce comparisons with prior purchases of the same or similar supplies or services made on a competitive basis or supported by valid certified cost or pricing data; (c) Available cost or pricing information permits realistic estimates of the …
  • FAR 16.505 Ordering.
    …shold. (A) Each order exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold shall be placed on a competitive basis in accordance with paragraph (b)(1)(iii)(B) of this section, unless supported by a written determination that one of the circumstanc…
  • FAR 18.114 Contracting with the Small Business Administration (The 8(a) Program).
    …nistration (SBA) for performance by eligible 8(a) participants on either a sole source or competitive basis. (See Subpart 19.8.)
  • FAR 19.800 General.
    …arded to the SBA for performance by eligible 8(a) participants on either a sole source or competitive basis. (c) Acting under the authority of the program, the SBA certifies to an agency that SBA is competent and responsible to perform a s…
  • FAR 22.1003-4 Administrative limitations, variations, tolerances, and exemptions.
    …contract award. (i) For source selections where the contracting officer has established a competitive range, if the contracting officer determines that one or more of the conditions in paragraphs 22.1003-4 (c)(2)(i) through (iii) of an offe…
  • FAR 41.201 Policy.
    …eral Energy Regulatory Commission. (e) Prior to acquiring electric utility services on a competitive basis, the contracting officer shall determine, with the advice of legal counsel, by a market survey or any other appropriate means, e.g. …
  • FAR 44.202-2 Considerations.
    …competition or result in higher prices; (3) Subcontracts are proposed for award on a non-competitive basis, at prices that appear unreasonable, or at prices higher than those offered to the Government in comparable circumstances; or (4) S…
  • DFARS 208.404 Use of Federal Supply Schedules.
    …n response to an order exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold that is placed on a competitive basis, the procedures at 215.371 apply. (ii) Departments and agencies shall comply with the review, approval, and reporting requirements …
  • DFARS 215.408 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.
    …uired at 225.870-4(c)(2)(ii); and (B) Do not use 252.225-7003 in lieu of 252.215-7010 in competitive acquisitions; and (ii)(A) Use the clause at 252.215-7004, Requirement for Submission of Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data—Mo…
  • DFARS 216.505-70 Orders under multiple-award contracts.
    …n response to an order exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold that is placed on a competitive basis, the contracting officer shall follow the procedures at 215.371. (b) See PGI 216.505-70 for guidance regarding minimum labor catego…
  • DFARS 219.800 General.
    …d under the PA may be awarded directly to the 8(a) participant on either a sole source or competitive basis. An SBA signature on the contract is not required. (c) Notwithstanding the PA, the contracting officer may elect to award a contrac…
  • DFARS 227.7103-13 Government right to review, verify, challenge, and validate asserted restrictions.
    …rtion and continued adherence to the assertion would make it impractical to later procure competitively the item to which the data pertain. (b) Pre-award considerations. The challenge procedures required by 10 U.S.C. 3782 could significant…
  • DFARS 239.7402 Policy.
    …ecommunications services from common and noncommon telecommunications carriers— (1) On a competitive basis, except when acquisition using other than full and open competition is justified; (2) Recognizing the regulations, practices, and d…
  • DFARS 252.244-7001 Contractor Purchasing System Administration.
    … a consistent make-or-buy policy that is in the best interest of the Government; (7) Use competitive sourcing to the maximum extent practicable, and ensure debarred or suspended contractors are properly excluded from contract award; (8) E…
  • FAR 8.405-3 Blanket purchase agreements (BPAs).
    …A (see (a)(3)(iv)); (vii) Evidence of compliance with paragraph (b) of this section, for competitively awarded BPAs, if applicable; and (viii) Basis for the award decision. This should include the evaluation methodology used in selecting …
  • FAR 8.602 Policy.
    …e of the areas of price, quality, and time of delivery— (i) Acquire the item using— (A) Competitive procedures (e.g., the procedures in 6.102, the set-aside procedures in subpart 19.5, or competition conducted in accordance with part 13);…
  • FAR 9.505 General rules.
    … of conflicting roles that might bias a contractor's judgment; and (b) Preventing unfair competitive advantage. In addition to the other situations described in this subpart, an unfair competitive advantage exists where a contractor compet…
  • FAR 13.106-1 Soliciting competition.
    …rs: (1)(i) The nature of the article or service to be purchased and whether it is highly competitive and readily available in several makes or brands, or is relatively noncompetitive. (ii) Information obtained in making recent purchases o…
  • FAR 15.305 Proposal evaluation.
    …eror's ability to perform the prospective contract successfully. An agency shall evaluate competitive proposals and then assess their relative qualities solely on the factors and subfactors specified in the solicitation. Evaluations may be …
  • FAR 15.403-1 Prohibition on obtaining certified cost or pricing data (10 U.S.C. chapter 271 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    … with section 41 U.S.C. 3501: (A) When purchasing services that are not offered and sold competitively in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, but are of a type offered and sold competitively in substantial quantities in t…
  • FAR 16.601 Time-and-materials contracts.
    …contractor under a common control. (iii) For contract actions that are not awarded using competitive procedures, unless exempt under paragraph (c)(2)(iv) of this section, the fixed hourly rates for services transferred between divisions, s…
  • FAR 41.202 Procedures.
    … service is not available, the market survey may be used to determine the availability of competitive sources for certain portions of the requirement. The scope of the term “entire utility service” includes the provision of the utility serv…
  • DFARS 227.7203-13 Government right to review, verify, challenge, and validate asserted restrictions.
    …rations. The challenge procedures in the clause at 252.227-7019 could significantly delay competitive procurements. Therefore, avoid challenging asserted restrictions prior to a competitive contract award unless resolution of the assertion …
  • DFARS 252.227-7037 Validation of Asserted Restrictions on Technical Data.
    …t continued adherence to the asserted restriction would make impracticable the subsequent competitive acquisition of the item or process to which the technical data relates, the Contracting Officer will follow the procedures in paragraph (e…
  • FAR 5.303 Announcement of contract awards.
    … or (2) For awards after negotiation, the information prescribed by 15.503(b), and after competitive negotiation (either price or design competition), a statement to this effect, and in general terms the basis for selection.
  • FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
    …erwise available to the Government; and (C) Does not resemble the substance of a pending competitive acquisition. (See 10 U.S.C. 3204(b)(A)and 41 U.S.C. 3304(b)(1).) (ii) Supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original sourc…
  • FAR 6.303-2 Content.
    …cification of the statutory provision providing the exception from the requirement to use competitive procedures in entering into the contract (see 19.805-1). (3) A determination that the use of a sole-source contract is in the best intere…

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.