FAR 15.606-1—Receipt and initial review.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 15.606-1 explains the agency’s first-step screening process for unsolicited proposals before any full evaluation begins. It covers the agency contact point’s initial review for whether the submission is a valid unsolicited proposal under FAR 15.603(c), whether it is actually better suited to an existing agency requirement under FAR 15.602, whether it relates to the agency mission, whether it contains enough technical and cost or price information to evaluate, whether it shows overall scientific, technical, or socioeconomic merit, whether it has been approved by an authorized official who can bind the offeror, and whether it complies with the marking rules in FAR 15.609. The section also requires prompt acknowledgment and processing when the proposal passes this screening, and prompt written notice of rejection when it does not, including the reasons and the proposed disposition of the proposal. In practice, this provision is designed to prevent agencies from spending time on submissions that are not truly unsolicited proposals or are too incomplete or misdirected to evaluate, while ensuring offerors receive timely, transparent treatment. It is an administrative gatekeeping rule, not a merits award decision, but it strongly affects whether a submission moves forward at all.
Key Rules
Initial screening required
Before any comprehensive evaluation, the agency contact point must determine whether the submission meets the threshold requirements listed in the rule. This is a preliminary accept-or-reject review, not a full technical or cost evaluation.
Must be a valid unsolicited proposal
The submission must qualify as an unsolicited proposal under FAR 15.603(c). If it is not truly unsolicited or does not meet the definition, it should not proceed under this process.
Check fit and relevance
The contact point must determine whether the proposal is better suited to an existing agency requirement, whether it relates to the agency mission, and whether it has overall scientific, technical, or socioeconomic merit. These checks ensure the agency only processes proposals that are relevant and potentially useful.
Information must be sufficient
The proposal must include enough technical information and cost-related or price-related information to permit evaluation. A submission that is too vague, incomplete, or unsupported may be rejected at the initial review stage.
Proper authorization is required
The proposal must be approved by a responsible official or other representative who is authorized to obligate the offeror contractually. This protects the government from dealing with submissions that the offeror has not properly authorized.
Marking requirements must be met
The proposal must comply with the marking requirements in FAR 15.609. Proper marking helps protect proprietary or restricted information and is part of the threshold review.
Prompt acknowledgment and processing
If the proposal satisfies the screening criteria, the contact point must promptly acknowledge receipt and process the proposal. The agency should not delay once the submission clears the initial review.
Written rejection notice required
If the proposal is rejected for failing the screening criteria, the contact point must promptly notify the offeror in writing, explain the reasons for rejection, and state the proposed disposition of the unsolicited proposal.
Responsibilities
Agency Contact Point
Perform the initial screening of each unsolicited proposal against all required threshold criteria before any comprehensive evaluation. Promptly acknowledge and process proposals that pass, and promptly issue a written rejection with reasons and proposed disposition for proposals that do not.
Offeror
Submit a proposal that qualifies as an unsolicited proposal, is relevant to the agency, includes sufficient technical and cost or price information, shows merit, is properly authorized by someone who can bind the company, and complies with marking requirements.
Responsible Official or Authorized Representative of Offeror
Review and approve the proposal before submission when required, ensuring the offeror is contractually bound or otherwise properly authorized to submit the unsolicited proposal.
Agency
Use the initial review process to screen out proposals that are not suitable for unsolicited-proposal processing and ensure timely communication and disposition of accepted or rejected submissions.
Practical Implications
This section is a gatekeeper: many unsolicited proposals will never reach full evaluation if they are incomplete, not truly unsolicited, or aimed at an existing requirement instead of a novel agency need.
Offerors should make sure the submission is clearly tied to the agency mission, contains enough technical and pricing detail, and is properly signed or approved by an authorized representative before sending it in.
A common pitfall is treating an unsolicited proposal like a marketing brochure or concept paper; if it lacks enough detail for evaluation, the agency can reject it at the outset.
Another frequent issue is failing to follow the marking rules in FAR 15.609, which can create handling problems and may contribute to rejection.
For agencies, the key operational risk is delay: the rule requires prompt acknowledgment, processing, or written rejection, so contact points should have a disciplined intake and screening workflow.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Before initiating a comprehensive evaluation, the agency contact point shall determine if the proposal- (1) Is a valid unsolicited proposal, meeting the requirements of 15.603 (c); (2) Is suitable for submission in response to an existing agency requirement (see 15.602 ); (3) Is related to the agency mission; (4) Contains sufficient technical information and cost-related or price-related information for evaluation; (5) Has overall scientific, technical, or socioeconomic merit; (6) Has been approved by a responsible official or other representative authorized to obligate the offeror contractually; and (7) Complies with the marking requirements of 15.609 . (b) If the proposal meets these requirements, the contact point shall promptly acknowledge receipt and process the proposal. (c) If a proposal is rejected because the proposal does not meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection, the agency contact point shall promptly inform the offeror of the reasons for rejection in writing and of the proposed disposition of the unsolicited proposal.