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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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139 sections with “justification”: the first 40

  • FAR 6.305 Availability of the justification.
    (a) The agency shall make publicly available the justification required by 6.303-1 as required by 10 U.S.C. 3204(f) and 41 U.S.C. 3304(f). Except for the circumstances in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the justification shall be ma…
  • FAR 6.304 Approval of the justification.
    (a) Except for paragraph (b) of this section, the justification for other than full and open competition shall be approved in writing— (1) For a proposed contract not exceeding $900,000, the contracting officer's certification required by …
  • FAR 5.406 Public disclosure of justification documents for certain contract actions.
    (a) Justifications and approvals for other than full and open competition must be posted in accordance with 6.305. (b) Limited-source justifications (excluding brand name) for FSS orders or blanket purchase agreements with an estimated val…
  • FAR 26.204 Justification for expenditures to other than local firms.
    …tract not awarded to a local firm, must be justified in writing in the contract file. The justification should include consideration for the scope of the major disaster or emergency and the immediate requirements or needs of supplies and se…
  • DFARS 206.304 Approval of the justification.
    …e follow-on acquisition to a previous award for the same supply or service supported by a justification for other than full and open competition citing the authority at FAR 6.302-1, follow the procedures at PGI 206.304(a)(S-70). (S-71) In …
  • DFARS 206.305 Availability of the justification.
    …5 for further guidance on the requirements for preparing, obtaining approval, and posting justification and approval documents for contracts awarded using the authority of FAR 6.302-2.
  • FAR 6.303 Justifications.
  • DFARS 206.303 Justifications.
  • FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
    … of the acquisition is for a brand-name product or item peculiar to one manufacturer, the justification and approval is to cover only the portion of the acquisition which is brand-name or peculiar to one manufacturer. The justification shou…
  • FAR 6.303-1 Requirements.
    …, the use of such actions in writing; (2) Certifies the accuracy and completeness of the justification; and (3) Obtains the approval required by 6.304. (b) The contracting officer shall not award a sole-source contract under the 8(a) aut…
  • FAR 6.303-2 Content.
    (a) Each justification shall contain sufficient facts and rationale to justify the use of the specific authority cited. (b) As a minimum, each justification, except those for sole-source 8(a) contracts over $30 million (see paragraph (d) o…
  • FAR 8.405-3 Blanket purchase agreements (BPAs).
    …eater than $150 million is in addition to any applicable requirement for a limited-source justification at 8.405-6. However, the two documents may be combined into one document. (iv) In determining how many multiple-award BPAs to establish…
  • FAR 8.405-6 Limiting sources.
    …on— (a) Orders or BPAs exceeding the micro-purchase threshold based on a limited sources justification—(1) Circumstances justifying limiting the source. (i) For a proposed order or BPA with an estimated value exceeding the micro-purchase t…
  • FAR 13.501 Special documentation requirements.
    …ied in paragraph (a)(2) of this section; (ii) Prepare sole source (including brand name) justifications using the format at 6.303-2, modified to reflect that the procedures in FAR subpart 13.5 were used in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901 or…
  • FAR 16.505 Ordering.
    …m paragraphs (b)(2)(ii)(A), (B), and (C) of this section, modified to show the brand-name justification. A justification is required unless a justification covering the requirements in the order was previously approved for the contract in a…
  • FAR 23.104 General procedures.
    (a) Maximum extent practicable. If the requiring activity submits a written justification addressing the reasons described in 23.103(a)(1), the contracting officer may consider it not practicable to procure sustainable products or services.…
  • FAR 27.404-5 Unauthorized, omitted, or incorrect markings.
    …uiry of the contractor and affording the contractor at least 60 days to provide a written justification substantiating the propriety of the markings. (i) If the contractor fails to respond or fails to provide a written justification substa…
  • FAR 32.904 Determining payment due dates.
    …te the services performed. The contracting officer must document in the contract file the justification for extending the constructive acceptance period beyond 7 days. Extended acceptance periods must not be a routine agency practice and mu…
  • FAR 52.227-14 Rights in Data—General.
    …ontractor affording the Contractor 60 days from receipt of the inquiry to provide written justification to substantiate the propriety of the markings; (ii) If the Contractor fails to respond or fails to provide written justification to sub…
  • DFARS 252.227-7019 Validation of Asserted Restrictions—Computer Software.
    … and Other Than Commercial Computer Software Documentation, clause of this contract. (b) Justification. The Contractor shall maintain records sufficient to justify the validity of any asserted restrictions on the Government's rights to use…
  • FAR 4.803 Contents of contract files.
    …hase request, acquisition planning information, and other presolicitation documents. (2) Justifications and approvals, determinations and findings, and associated documents. (3) Evidence of availability of funds. (4) Synopsis of proposed…
  • FAR 5.301 General.
    …Supply Schedule (FSS) orders or Blanket Purchase Agreements supported by a limited-source justification (excluding brand name) in accordance with 8.405-6; or (ii) Task or delivery orders awarded without providing fair opportunity in accord…
  • FAR 6.302-2 Unusual and compelling urgency.
    …Limitations. (1) Contracts awarded using this authority shall be supported by the written justifications and approvals described in 6.303 and 6.304. These justifications may be made and approved after contract award when preparation and app…
  • FAR 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute.
    … source awards under the 8(a) Program (15 U.S.C. 637), but see 6.303 for requirements for justification and approval of sole-source 8(a) awards over $30 million. (See subpart 19.8.) (5) Sole source awards under the HUBZone Act of 1997—15 U…
  • FAR 17.503 Ordering procedures.
    … the servicing agency to award a contract, the following procedures also apply: (1) If a justification and approval or a D&F (other than the requesting agency's D&F required in 17.502-2(c)) is required by law or regulation, the servicing a…
  • DFARS 206.303-1 Requirements.
    …n 823 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub. L. 116-92), no justification and approval is required for a sole-source contract under the 8(a) authority (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) for an amount not exceeding $100 million…
  • DFARS 206.303-2 Content.
    (b)(i) In lieu of the threshold at FAR 6.303-2(b), each justification shall include the information at FAR 6.303-2(b), except for sole-source 8(a) contracts over $100 million (see paragraph (d) of this section). (ii) Include the informatio…
  • 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…
  • DFARS 211.170 Use of proprietary specifications or standards.
    A justification and approval is required to use proprietary specifications and standards— (1) When using sealed bidding or negotiated acquisition procedures (see 206.302-1(S-70) for justification requirements); or (2) When using the simpl…
  • DFARS 252.227-7037 Validation of Asserted Restrictions on Technical Data.
    …the assertion that the commercial item was developed exclusively at private expense. (c) Justification. The Contractor or subcontractor at any tier is responsible for maintaining records sufficient to justify the validity of its asserted r…
  • FAR 8.404 Use of Federal Supply Schedules.
    …value greater than the simplified acquisition threshold and supported by a limited-source justification at 8.405-6(a), the ordering activity contracting officer must— (i) Publicize the action (see 5.301); and (ii) Post the justification i…
  • FAR 8.405-1 Ordering procedures for supplies, and services not requiring a statement of work.
    … with (d)(2) and (3) of this section, unless this requirement is waived on the basis of a justification that is prepared and approved in accordance with 8.405-6. (2) The ordering activity contracting officer shall provide an RFQ that inclu…
  • FAR 11.105 Items peculiar to one manufacturer.
    … to contract without providing for full and open competition is supported by the required justifications and approvals (see 6.302-1); or (ii) The basis for not providing for maximum practicable competition is documented in the file (see 13…
  • FAR 17.205 Documentation.
    …ing the option, and any limitation on option price under 17.203(g); and shall include the justification document in the contract file. (b) Any justifications and approvals and any determination and findings required by part 6 shall specify…
  • FAR 19.201 General policy.
    … Small Business Act; (ii) Adequacy of consolidated or bundled contract documentation and justifications; and (iii) Actions taken to mitigate the effects of necessary and justified consolidation or bundling on small businesses; (12) Provi…
  • FAR 19.502-8 Rejecting Small Business Administration recommendations.
    …aled to the agency head, the head of the contracting activity (or designee) shall forward justification for its decision to the agency head. The contracting officer shall suspend contract action until notification is received that the SBA a…
  • FAR 23.109 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.
    …icitations and contracts— (1) Unless— (i) The requiring activity has provided a written justification that it is not practicable to procure sustainable products and services (see 23.104(a)); (ii) An exception under 23.105 applies; or (i…
  • FAR 31.205-46 Travel costs.
    …erred in paragraph (a)(2)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section, must exist. (ii) A written justification for use of the higher amounts must be approved by an officer of the contractor's organization or designee to ensure that the authority i…
  • FAR 33.103 Protests to the agency.
    … reasons or is determined, in writing, to be in the best interest of the Government. Such justification or determination shall be approved at a level above the contracting officer, or by another official pursuant to agency procedures. (2) …
  • FAR 52.215-9 Changes or Additions to Make-or-Buy Program.
    …nce of the proposed change, (1) notify the Contracting Officer in writing, and (2) submit justification in sufficient detail to permit evaluation. Changes in the place of performance of any “make” items in the program are subject to this re…

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.