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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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87 sections with “rationale”: the first 40

  • FAR 7.105 Contents of written acquisition plans.
    …ibe the strategies for implementing performance-based acquisition methods or must provide rationale for not using those methods (see subpart 37.6). (a) Acquisition background and objectives—(1) Statement of need. Introduce the plan by a br…
  • FAR 7.107-5 Notifications.
    …notification shall be documented in the contract file. (b) Notification to the public of rationale for bundled requirement. The agency is encouraged to provide notification of the rationale for any bundled requirement to the GPE, before is…
  • FAR 16.505 Ordering.
    …opportunity process. If the contracting officer uses the logical follow-on exception, the rationale shall describe why the relationship between the initial order and the follow-on is logical (e.g., in terms of scope, period of performance, …
  • FAR 5.705 Publicizing postaward.
    … and competitively awarded, publicize the award notice and include in the description the rationale for using other than a fixed-priced and/or competitive approach. Include in the description a statement specifically noting if the contract …
  • 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 19.506 Documentation requirements.
    (a)(1) The contracting officer shall document the rationale when a contract is not totally set aside for small business in accordance with 19.502-2. (2) The contracting officer shall document the rationale when a multiple-award contract is…
  • FAR 8.405-2 Ordering procedures for services requiring a statement of work.
    …he evaluation methodology used in selecting the contractor to receive the order; (5) The rationale for any tradeoffs in making the selection; (6) The price reasonableness determination required by paragraph (d) of this subsection; (7) Th…
  • FAR 8.405-6 Limiting sources.
    …et the agency's needs (including the estimated value). (iv) The authority and supporting rationale (see 8.405-6(a)(1)(i) and (b)(1)) and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor's unique qualifications to provide the requ…
  • FAR 15.308 Source selection decision.
    …he source selection decision shall be documented, and the documentation shall include the rationale for any business judgments and tradeoffs made or relied on by the SSA, including benefits associated with additional costs. Although the rat…
  • 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).
    …or pricing data in exceptional cases. The authorization for the waiver and the supporting rationale shall be in writing. The HCA may consider waiving the requirement if the price can be determined to be fair and reasonable without submissio…
  • FAR 15.505 Preaward debriefing of offerors.
    … is not in the best interests of the Government to conduct a debriefing at that time. The rationale for delaying the debriefing shall be documented in the contract file. If the contracting officer delays the debriefing, it shall be provided…
  • FAR 19.602-2 Issuing or denying a Certificate of Competency (COC).
    …concern. The COC issuance letter will then be sent, including as an attachment a detailed rationale for the decision; or (2) Ask the Area Director to suspend the case for one or more of the following purposes: (i) To permit the SBA to for…
  • FAR 25.703-4 Waiver.
    …ontrolled by, or acting on behalf or at the direction of, the government of Iran, provide rationale why it is in the national interest for the President to waive the prohibition on contracting with this offeror, as required by 22 U.S.C. 855…
  • FAR 30.603-2 Unilateral and desirable changes.
    … (or other mutually agreeable date) before implementation of the change; and (ii) Submit rationale to support any contractor written statement that the cost impact of the change is immaterial. (2) If a contractor implements the change in …
  • FAR 50.103-6 Disposition.
    … national defense.” The case files supporting this statement will show the derivation and rationale for the dollar amount of the award. When the dollar amount exceeds the amounts supported by audit or other independent reviews, the approvin…
  • DFARS 227.7007 Notification and disclosure to claimants.
    …otify the claimant or his authorized representative and provide the claimant a reasonable rationale of the basis for denying the claim. Disclosure of information or the rationale referred to above shall be subject to applicable statutes, re…
  • DFARS 232.7101 Policy and procedures.
    …o the Government. Follow the procedures at PGI 232.7101(b) for reviewing the contractor's rationale and submitting the required notification. (c) The Principal Director, DPCAP, will promptly evaluate the contractor's rationale and will not…
  • DFARS 252.204-7023 Reporting Requirements for Contracted Services.
    …tractor shall revise the reported information or provide the Government with a supporting rationale for the information. (End of clause) Alternate I. As prescribed in 204.1705 (a)(i) and (iii), use the following clause, which substitutes …
  • DFARS 252.215-7002 Cost Estimating System Requirements.
    …rocedures. (iv) Identify and document the sources of data and the estimating methods and rationale used in developing cost estimates and budgets. (v) Provide for adequate supervision throughout the estimating and budgeting process. (vi) …
  • DFARS 252.232-7010 Levies on Contract Payments.
    …ctor believes that the levy may result in an inability to perform the contract, including rationale and adequate supporting documentation; and (3) Advice as to whether the inability to perform may adversely affect national security, includ…
  • DFARS 252.244-7001 Contractor Purchasing System Administration.
    …tor disagrees with the initial determination, the Contractor shall state, in writing, its rationale for disagreeing. (3) The Contracting Officer will evaluate the Contractor's response and notify the Contractor, in writing, of the Contract…
  • FAR 1.502 Unsolicited proposed revisions.
    …ecommendations for revisions that have been submitted in writing with sufficient data and rationale to permit their evaluation.
  • FAR 1.701 Definition.
    … conclusion or decision supported by the findings. The findings are statements of fact or rationale essential to support the determination and must cover each requirement of the statute or regulation.
  • FAR 4.1703 Reporting requirements.
    …than November 15. By November 30, the contractor shall revise the report, or document its rationale for the agency. Authorized agency officials may review the reports at www.sam.gov. (2) Agencies are required to compile annually an invento…
  • FAR 4.2304 Procedures.
    …paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, then the contract file shall be documented providing rationale why the contract could not be modified within this timeframe. (d) Agency specific procedures. The contracting officer shall follow agency p…
  • FAR 5.205 Special situations.
    …nts, see 7.107-5(c) and (d). (2) The agency is encouraged to provide notification of the rationale for any bundled requirement to the GPE before issuing the solicitation of any bundled requirement (see 7.107-5(b)). (h) Notice regarding ti…
  • FAR 7.107-4 Substantial bundling.
    …) Alternative strategies that would reduce or minimize the scope of the bundling, and the rationale for not choosing those alternatives.
  • FAR 8.404 Use of Federal Supply Schedules.
    …&F required by paragraph (h)(3)(ii)(A) of this section shall contain sufficient facts and rationale to justify that a fixed-price order is not suitable. At a minimum, the D&F shall— (A) Include a description of the market research conducte…
  • FAR 8.405-3 Blanket purchase agreements (BPAs).
    …ion. This should include the evaluation methodology used in selecting the contractor, the rationale for any tradeoffs in making the selection, and a price reasonableness determination for services requiring a statement of work. (b) Competi…
  • FAR 8.602 Policy.
    ….S.C. 4124(b) do not apply; (2) Prepare a written determination that includes supporting rationale explaining the assessment of price, quality, and time of delivery, based on the results of market research comparing the FPI item to supplie…
  • FAR 9.107 Surveys of nonprofit agencies participating in the AbilityOne Program.
    … Committee that the AbilityOne participating nonprofit agency is capable, with supporting rationale, and that the survey is waived. The capability survey will focus on the technical and production capabilities and applicable preaward survey…
  • FAR 12.207 Contract type.
    …&F required by paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(A) of this section shall contain sufficient facts and rationale to justify that no other contract type authorized by this subpart is suitable. At a minimum, the D&F shall— (i) Include a description of th…
  • FAR 12.602 Streamlined evaluation of offers.
    … to the Government based on the factors contained in the solicitation. Fully document the rationale for selection of the successful offeror including discussion of any tradeoffs considered.
  • FAR 14.304 Submission, modification, and withdrawal of bids.
    …tion, or withdrawal: (1) The date and hour of receipt. (2) A statement, with supporting rationale, regarding whether the bid was considered for award. (3) The envelope, wrapper, or other evidence of the date of receipt.
  • FAR 15.101-1 Tradeoff process.
    …perceived benefits of the higher priced proposal shall merit the additional cost, and the rationale for tradeoffs must be documented in the file in accordance with 15.406.
  • FAR 15.203 Requests for proposals.
    …upporting oral solicitations should include— (i) A description of the requirement; (ii) Rationale for use of an oral solicitation; (iii) Sources solicited, including the date, time, name of individuals contacted, and prices offered; and …
  • FAR 15.208 Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals.
    … (2) A statement regarding whether the proposal was considered for award, with supporting rationale. (3) The envelope, wrapper, or other evidence of date of receipt.
  • FAR 15.306 Exchanges with offerors after receipt of proposals.
    …s such a notice and the Government determines it is necessary to conduct discussions, the rationale for doing so shall be documented in the contract file (see the provision at 52.215-1) (10 U.S.C. 3303(a)(2) and 41 U.S.C. 3703(a)(2)). (b) …
  • FAR 15.404-2 Data to support proposal analysis.
    …upon the extent and complexity of the field pricing review, results, including supporting rationale, may be reported directly to the contracting officer orally, in writing, or by any other method acceptable to the contracting officer. (i) …
  • FAR 15.404-4 Profit.
    …ng officer shall not require any prospective contractor to submit breakouts or supporting rationale for its profit or fee objective but may consider it, if it is submitted voluntarily. (6) If a change or modification calls for essentially …

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.