48 CFR · Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense supplement

FAR and DFARS navigator

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.

Ask the FAR

Try: · · ·

Clear

9 sections with “materially unbalanced”

  • FAR 52.214-10 Contract Award—Sealed Bidding.
    …either party. (e) The Government may reject a bid as nonresponsive if the prices bid are materially unbalanced between line items or subline items. A bid is materially unbalanced when it is based on prices significantly less than cost for …
  • FAR 52.214-19 Contract Award—Sealed Bidding—Construction.
    …n or the bid. (d) The Government may reject a bid as nonresponsive if the prices bid are materially unbalanced between line items or subline items. A bid is materially unbalanced when it is based on prices significantly less than cost for …
  • FAR 9.306 Solicitation requirements.
    … first articles and first article tests in relation to production quantities shall not be materially unbalanced (see 15.404-1(g)) if first article test items or tests are to be separately priced.
  • FAR 14.404-2 Rejection of individual bids.
    … well. (g) Any bid may be rejected if the prices for any line items or subline items are materially unbalanced (see 15.404-1(g)). (h) Bids received from any person or concern that is suspended, debarred, proposed for debarment, or declare…
  • FAR 14.408-2 Responsible bidder—reasonableness of price.
    …re only a single bid is received. (b) The price analysis shall consider whether bids are materially unbalanced (see 15.404-1(g)).
  • FAR 36.205 Statutory cost limitations.
    …ll also reject an offer if its prices are within statutory limitations only because it is materially unbalanced. An offer is unbalanced if its prices are significantly less than cost for some work, and overstated for other work.
  • FAR 52.215-1 Instructions to Offerors—Competitive Acquisition.
    …) The Government may determine that a proposal is unacceptable if the prices proposed are materially unbalanced between line items or subline items. Unbalanced pricing exists when, despite an acceptable total evaluated price, the price of o…
  • DFARS 252.236-7006 Cost limitation.
    …s, direct and indirect, overhead, and profit. (d) Offers may be rejected which— (1) Are materially unbalanced for the purpose of bringing items within cost limitations; or (2) Exceed the cost limitations, unless the limitations have been…
  • FAR 15.404-1 Proposal analysis techniques.
    …not be a valid basis for comparison. (B) The prior price must be adjusted to account for materially differing terms and conditions, quantities and market and economic factors. For similar items, the contracting officer must also adjust the…

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.