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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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50 sections with “justification and approval”: the first 40

  • 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 6.304 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 …
  • 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…
  • 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 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…
  • DFARS 206.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
    …(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Pub. L. 114-328), the justification and approval addressed in FAR 6.303 is required in order to use brand name or equal descriptions. (d) Limitations. Follow the procedure…
  • 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 226.7202 Policy and procedures.
    …tracting officer elects to use this Demonstration Project, FAR 6.302-5 requires a written justification and approval to limit competition to eligible contractors. In the justification, identify the statutory authority for the Demonstration …
  • 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 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 15.607 Criteria for acceptance and negotiation of an unsolicited proposal.
    …n— (1) An unsolicited proposal has received a favorable comprehensive evaluation; (2) A justification and approval has been obtained (see 6.302-1(a)(2)(i) for research proposals or other appropriate provisions of subpart 6.3, and 6.303-2(…
  • 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 6.302-5 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 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 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…
  • FAR 32.409-1 Recommendation for approval.
    …n (see 32.410). (g) The recommendation for approval of the advance payment request. (h) Justification of any proposal for waiver of interest charges (see 32.407).
  • 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 201.304 Agency control and compliance procedures.
    …— (i) The certification requirement is specifically imposed by statute; or (ii) Written justification for such certification is provided to the Secretary of Defense by USD(A&S), and the Secretary of Defense approves in writing the inclusi…
  • 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 6.001 Applicability.
    …ntained in the order; or (2) The contract was awarded under subpart 6.3 and the required justification and approval adequately covers the requirements contained in the order; or (f) Orders placed against task order and delivery order cont…
  • FAR 26.501 Applicability.
    …g contracts with 8(a) contractors under FAR subpart 19.8 and modifications that require a justification and approval (see subpart 6.3), except contracts— (a) At or below the simplified acquisition threshold; however, the requirements of th…
  • DFARS 206.303-70 Acquisitions in support of operations in Afghanistan.
    The justification and approval addressed in FAR 6.303 is not required for acquisitions conducted using a procedure specified in 225.7703-1(a).
  • DFARS 207.7003 Limitation.
    …itional quantities is limited to not more than 10 percent of the quantity approved in the justification and approval prepared in accordance with FAR part 6 for the acquisition of the end item.
  • DFARS 213.501 Special documentation requirements.
    …(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Pub. L. 114-328), the justification and approval addressed in FAR 13.501(a) is required in order to use brand name or equal descriptions or proprietary specifications and s…
  • DFARS 225.7703-1 Acquisition procedures.
    …quisitions conducted using a procedure specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the justification and approval addressed in FAR Subpart 6.3 is not required. (c) When issuing solicitations and contracts for performance in Afghanistan,…
  • 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 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 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 1.403 Individual deviations.
    …plicable, may be authorized by the agency head. The contracting officer must document the justification and agency approval in the contract file.
  • FAR 4.2104 Waivers.
    …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 (ii) A fu…
  • FAR 4.2305 Waivers.
    … a source that is subject to the order from which an exception is sought; (4) Compelling justification for why an exception should be granted, such as the impact of the order on the agency's ability to fulfill its mission-critical function…
  • FAR 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services.
    …(c) Limitations. Contracts awarded using this authority shall be supported by the written justifications and approvals described in 6.303 and 6.304.
  • FAR 6.302-4 International agreement.
    …and the Coast Guard, contracts awarded using this authority shall be supported by written justifications and approvals described in 6.303 and 6.304.
  • FAR 6.302-6 National security.
    …Limitations. (1) Contracts awarded using this authority shall be supported by the written justifications and approvals described in 6.303 and 6.304. (2) See 5.202(a)(1) for synopsis requirements. (3) This statutory authority requires that…
  • FAR 16.703 Basic ordering agreements.
    … agreement is not prejudicial to other offerors; and (iii) Sign or obtain any applicable justifications and approvals, and any determination and findings, in accordance with 1.602-1(b), and comply with other requirements, as if the order w…

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.