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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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42 sections with “sole source authority”: the first 40

  • FAR 19.814 Requesting a formal size determination (8(a) sole source requirements).
    (a) If the size status of an 8(a) participant nominated for award of an 8(a) sole source contract is called into question, a request for a formal size determination may be submitted to SBA pursuant to 13 CFR 121.1001(b)(2)(ii) by— (1) The …
  • FAR 19.811-1 Sole source.
    (a) The contract to be awarded by the agency to the SBA shall be prepared in accordance with agency procedures and in the same detail as would be required in a contract with a business concern. The contracting officer shall use the Standard…
  • FAR 2.101 Definitions.
    … These projections may include rates for such things as labor, indirect costs, material obsolescence and usage, spare parts provisioning, and material handling. Forward pricing rate recommendation means a rate set unilaterally by the admin…
  • FAR 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute.
    ….7). (3) Government Printing and Binding—44 U.S.C. 501-504, 1121 (see subpart 8.8). (4) Sole 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 ov…
  • FAR 5.207 Preparation and transmittal of synopses.
    …tatement of the reason justifying the lack of competition. (16)(i) Except when using the sole source authority at 6.302-1, insert a statement that all responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered b…
  • FAR 8.405-6 Limiting sources.
    …ordering procedures. The original order or BPA must not have been previously issued under sole-source or limited-sources procedures. (ii) See 8.405-6(c) for the content of the justification for an order or BPA exceeding the simplified acqu…
  • FAR 13.501 Special documentation requirements.
    (a) Sole source (including brand name) acquisitions. (1) Acquisitions conducted under simplified acquisition procedures are exempt from the requirements in part 6. However, contracting officers must— (i) Conduct sole source acquisitions, a…
  • FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
    …18) (41 U.S.C. 2313). __(14) [Reserved] __(15) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source Award (OCT 2022) (15 U.S.C. 657a). __(16) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (OCT 2022) …
  • DFARS 213.7001 Procedures.
    …this part, and also eligible for the 8(a) Program, contracting officers may use— (i) For sole source purchase orders not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the procedures in PGI 219.804-2(2); or (ii) For other types of acquis…
  • FAR 6.303-1 Requirements.
    (a) A contracting officer shall not commence negotiations for a sole source contract, commence negotiations for a contract resulting from an unsolicited proposal, or award any other contract without providing for full and open competition u…
  • FAR 6.303-2 Content.
    … 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) of this section), shall include the following information: (1) Identification of the a…
  • FAR 52.219-1 Small Business Program Representations.
    …a program that authorizes contracting officers to limit competition, including award on a sole-source basis, to SDVOSB concerns eligible under the SDVOSB Program. Small business concern—(1) Means a concern, including its affiliates, that i…
  • FAR 52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan.
    …lanned subcontracting generally, for both commercial and Government business, rather than solely to the Government contract. Once the Contractor's commercial plan has been approved, the Government will not require another subcontracting pla…
  • DFARS 206.303-1 Requirements.
    …ct 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. (b) In lieu of FAR 6.303-1(b), in accordan…
  • FAR 3.104-1 Definitions.
    …ating in a critical step may be substantial. However, the review of procurement documents solely to determine compliance with regulatory, administrative, or budgetary procedures, does not constitute substantial participation in a procuremen…
  • FAR 16.505 Ordering.
    … or services ordered are unique or highly specialized. (C) The order must be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency because it is a logical follow-on to an order already issued under the contract, provided …
  • FAR 19.800 General.
    …racts may be awarded 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…
  • FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
    …a program that authorizes contracting officers to limit competition, including award on a sole-source basis, to SDVOSB concerns eligible under the SDVOSB Program. Small business concern—(1) Means a concern, including its affiliates, that i…
  • DFARS 206.303-2 Content.
    ….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 information required by PGI 206.303-2(b)(i) in jus…
  • DFARS 252.246-7007 Contractor Counterfeit Electronic Part Detection and Avoidance System.
    …tor, resistor, or diode), or a circuit assembly (section 818(f)(2) of Pub. L. 112-81). Obsolete electronic part means an electronic part that is no longer available from the original manufacturer or an authorized aftermarket manufacturer. …
  • FAR 3.104-3 Statutory and related prohibitions, restrictions, and requirements.
    …ency may not accept compensation from a contractor that has been awarded a competitive or sole source contract, as an employee, officer, director, or consultant of the contractor within a period of 1 year after such former official— (i) Se…
  • FAR 3.104-5 Disqualification.
    …curement. (1) The official must remain disqualified until such time as the agency, at its sole and exclusive discretion, authorizes the official to resume participation in the procurement in accordance with 3.104-3(c)(1)(ii). (2) After the…
  • FAR 4.803 Contents of contract files.
    …with inclusive dates of responsibility. (42) When limiting competition, or awarding on a sole source basis, to economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concerns or women-owned small business (WOSB) concerns eligible u…
  • FAR 5.202 Exceptions.
    …sed contract action results from an unsolicited research proposal and acceptance is based solely upon the unique capability of the source to perform the particular research services proposed (see 6.302-1(a)(2)(i); (9) The proposed contract…
  • FAR 9.202 Policy.
    …r may not be denied the opportunity to submit and have considered an offer for a contract solely because the potential offeror— (1) Is not on a QPL, QML, or QBL maintained by the Department of Defense (DoD) or the National Aeronautics and …
  • FAR 15.303 Responsibilities.
    …r contract clauses, and data requirements; (4) Ensure that proposals are evaluated based solely on the factors and subfactors contained in the solicitation (10 U.S.C. 3303(c) and 41 U.S.C. 3703(c)); (5) Consider the recommendations of adv…
  • FAR 15.305 Proposal evaluation.
    …. 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 conducted using any rating method or combination of methods, in…
  • FAR 31.205-18 Independent research and development and bid and proposal costs.
    …eering testing. Development excludes: (1) Subcontracted technical effort which is for the sole purpose of developing an additional source for an existing product, or (2) development effort for manufacturing or production materials, systems,…
  • FAR 32.113 Customary contract financing.
    …2.10 (but not both). (e) Financing of contracts for supplies or services awarded under a sole-source acquisition as defined in 2.101 and using the procedures of part 15, through either progress payments based on costs in accordance with su…
  • FAR 52.219-28 Postaward Small Business Program Rerepresentation.
    …owned, economically disadvantaged women-owned, or women-owned small business set-aside or sole-source award regardless of dollar value. (f) Except as provided in paragraph (h) of this clause, the Contractor shall make the representation(s)…
  • FAR 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons.
    …) Require any officer, director, owner, employee, or agent of the Contractor, including a sole proprietor, to waive his or her attorney client privilege or Fifth Amendment rights; or (iii) Restrict the Contractor from— (A) Conducting an i…
  • FAR 52.227-20 Rights in Data—SBIR Program.
    … reproductions of these data, in whole or in part. (End of notice) (2) The Government's sole obligation with respect to any SBIR data shall be as set forth in this paragraph (d). (e) Omitted or incorrect markings. (1) Data delivered to t…
  • FAR 52.245-1 Government Property.
    … property. Loss of Government property does not include purposeful destructive testing, obsolescence, normal wear and tear or manufacturing defects. Loss of Government property includes, but is not limited to— (1) Items that cannot be foun…
  • DFARS 202.101 Definitions.
    …iod preceding the solicitation of sources by DoD for the procurement (10 U.S.C. 3014). Obsolete electronic part means an electronic part that is no longer available from the original manufacturer or an authorized aftermarket manufacturer. …
  • DFARS 206.304 Approval of the justification.
    …. L. 116-92), the head of the procuring activity is the approval authority for a proposed sole-source 8(a) contract exceeding $100 million. This authority may only be delegated to an officer or employee who— (1) If a member of the armed fo…
  • DFARS 208.7003-2 Assignments under coordinated acquisition.
    … This exception does not permit acquisitions of recurring requirements for an item, based solely on the fact that the item is not stock numbered, nor may it be used to acquire items which have only slightly different characteristics than pr…
  • DFARS 219.800 General.
    …ontracts awarded 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 …
  • DFARS 237.104 Personal services contracts.
    …aluation and ranking in accordance with agency procedures. Individuals must be considered solely on the basis of the professional qualifications established for the particular personal services being acquired and the Government's estimate o…
  • DFARS 245.102 Policy.
    …ory leasing authority; (F) Property to which the Government has acquired a lien or title solely because of partial, advance, progress, or performance-based payments; (G) Intellectual property or software; or (H) Real property. (5) Repor…
  • DFARS 246.870-2 Policy.
    …EP) reports and other credible sources of counterfeiting information. (xii) Control of obsolete electronic parts.

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.