FAR 15.600—Scope of subpart.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 15.600 is the scope statement for the subpart on unsolicited proposals. It tells readers that this subpart governs the full lifecycle of an unsolicited proposal: how it is submitted, how the government receives it, how it is evaluated, and how it is either accepted or rejected. In practical terms, it establishes the framework agencies and offerors must follow when a contractor or other party brings forward a proposal that was not requested by the government through a solicitation. The section matters because unsolicited proposals are handled differently from ordinary competitive offers; they require screening for compliance, careful evaluation against regulatory criteria, and a formal decision on whether the government will consider the idea further. This scope statement does not itself set the detailed procedures, but it defines the subject matter and signals that the subpart is intended to control the entire intake-and-decision process for unsolicited proposals.
Key Rules
Covers unsolicited proposals
The subpart applies specifically to unsolicited proposals, meaning proposals submitted without a government request or solicitation. It is not the general rule set for competitive proposals or responses to a solicitation.
Addresses submission process
The subpart includes policies and procedures for how unsolicited proposals are submitted. This means the government and offerors must follow the prescribed intake rules rather than informal or ad hoc submission practices.
Addresses receipt and handling
The subpart governs how agencies receive unsolicited proposals once submitted. Agencies must process them under the subpart’s framework instead of treating them like ordinary correspondence or standard procurement offers.
Requires evaluation
The subpart covers evaluation of unsolicited proposals, meaning agencies must review them against the applicable regulatory standards before deciding what action to take. Evaluation is part of the formal process, not an optional step.
Allows acceptance or rejection
The subpart also covers the final agency decision to accept or reject an unsolicited proposal. This makes clear that the government has discretion to decline proposals that do not meet the required criteria or are otherwise unsuitable.
Responsibilities
Offeror / Submitter
Submit an unsolicited proposal in the manner required by the subpart and understand that the proposal will be subject to government receipt, evaluation, and a decision to accept or reject it.
Contracting Officer / Agency Reviewer
Receive unsolicited proposals under the subpart’s procedures, evaluate them according to the applicable standards, and determine whether they should be accepted or rejected.
Agency
Maintain policies and procedures for handling unsolicited proposals and ensure that submissions are processed consistently with the subpart’s requirements.
Practical Implications
This section is a roadmap, not the full procedure; users must look to the rest of the subpart for the detailed submission and evaluation requirements.
Contractors should not assume an unsolicited proposal will be treated like a normal bid or proposal; it is screened under a separate regulatory process.
Agencies need a consistent intake and review process so unsolicited proposals are not lost, mishandled, or evaluated informally outside the FAR framework.
A common pitfall is submitting an idea without following the unsolicited-proposal rules, which can lead to rejection before substantive review.
Another practical issue is expectation management: the government may evaluate a proposal and still reject it, so submission does not create any entitlement to award or further negotiation.
Official Regulatory Text
This subpart sets forth policies and procedures concerning the submission, receipt, evaluation, and acceptance or rejection of unsolicited proposals.