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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9 sections with “tradeoffs”

  • FAR 15.101-1 Tradeoff process.
    …y equal to, or significantly less important than cost or price. (c) This process permits tradeoffs among cost or price and non-cost factors and allows the Government to accept other than the lowest priced proposal. The perceived benefits o…
  • FAR 15.308 Source selection decision.
    …umented, 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 rationale for the selection decision must be…
  • FAR 16.505 Ordering.
    …lacement and price of each order, including the basis for award and the rationale for any tradeoffs among cost or price and non-cost considerations in making the award decision. This documentation need not quantify the tradeoffs that led to…
  • FAR 8.405-2 Ordering procedures for services requiring a statement of work.
    …odology 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) The rationale for us…
  • FAR 8.405-3 Blanket purchase agreements (BPAs).
    …nclude 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) Competitive procedures fo…
  • FAR 12.602 Streamlined evaluation of offers.
    …ocument the rationale for selection of the successful offeror including discussion of any tradeoffs considered.
  • FAR 15.101-2 Lowest price technically acceptable source selection process.
    …n accordance with the procedures contained in subpart 19.6 and 15 U.S.C. 637(b)(7)). (2) Tradeoffs are not permitted. (3) Proposals are evaluated for acceptability but not ranked using the non-cost/price factors. (4) Exchanges may occur …
  • FAR 15.305 Proposal evaluation.
    … the past performance of each party to the joint venture. (3) Technical evaluation. When tradeoffs are performed (see 15.101-1), the source selection records shall include— (i) An assessment of each offeror's ability to accomplish the tec…
  • DFARS 225.7304 FMS customer involvement.
    … prices of varying alternatives, quantities, and options needed to make price-performance tradeoffs. (c) Do not disclose to the FMS customer any data, including certified cost or pricing data, that is contractor proprietary unless the cont…

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.