FAR 34.005-1—Competition.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 34.005-1 addresses competition in major system acquisitions and is aimed at preventing early lock-in to a single concept or source before the government has had a fair chance to compare alternatives. It requires the program manager to promote full and open competition throughout the acquisition process, sustain effective competition between alternative major system concepts and sources, and do so only to the extent it is economically beneficial and practicable. The section also requires broad, effective notice of the proposed acquisition across business, academic, and Government communities so that capable sources have a real opportunity to participate. In addition, it recognizes that foreign contractors, technology, and equipment may be considered when feasible and permissible, which broadens the competitive field where allowed. Finally, it directs the contracting officer to time solicitation issuance and contract award to preserve continuity of concept development when transitioning from the withdrawing concept proposer to a new contractor. In practice, this section is about preserving competition, widening market awareness, and managing transitions carefully so major system development does not lose momentum or become unnecessarily constrained by an early source choice.
Key Rules
Promote full and open competition
The program manager must support full and open competition throughout the acquisition process. This means competition is not a one-time event at solicitation release; it must be maintained as the program develops.
Sustain concept and source competition
The government should keep competition alive between alternative major system concepts and sources for major systems. This obligation applies only as long as doing so is economically beneficial and practicable.
Provide broad acquisition notice
Notice of the proposed acquisition must be circulated as widely and effectively as practicable. The goal is to reach the business, academic, and Government communities so potential sources are aware of the opportunity.
Consider foreign participation when allowed
Foreign contractors, technology, and equipment may be considered if it is feasible and permissible. This is an authorization to broaden the competitive base, not a mandate to use foreign sources in every case.
Time transition to preserve continuity
The contracting officer should schedule solicitation issuance and award to maintain continuity of concept development when moving from the withdrawing concept proposer to a new contractor. The emphasis is on avoiding unnecessary disruption during source transition.
Responsibilities
Program Manager
Promote full and open competition throughout the acquisition process, sustain effective competition among alternative major system concepts and sources when economically beneficial and practicable, and ensure the proposed acquisition receives broad and effective notice.
Contracting Officer
Time solicitation issuance and contract award to preserve continuity of concept development during transition from a withdrawing concept proposer to a new contractor.
Agency Acquisition Team
Support broad market outreach and acquisition planning that encourages competition and considers whether foreign contractors, technology, or equipment may be feasible and permissible sources.
Potential Offerors
Monitor broad notices and compete for the acquisition when eligible, including domestic and, where allowed, foreign entities or technologies.
Practical Implications
This section pushes agencies to think about competition early and continuously, not just at the point of award. If competition is narrowed too soon, the government may lose leverage and innovation options.
Broad notice matters in practice: weak outreach can reduce the number and quality of responses, especially for major systems where potential sources may be spread across industry, academia, and government labs.
The economic-benefit and practicability limits are important. Agencies do not have to preserve competition forever if doing so no longer makes sense, but they should be able to explain why continued competition is no longer worthwhile or feasible.
The transition language is a scheduling warning: if a current concept proposer is leaving, the contracting officer should avoid gaps that interrupt development, testing, or design continuity.
A common pitfall is treating foreign participation as automatically excluded or automatically allowed. The rule is conditional—foreign sources may be considered only when feasible and permissible under the broader acquisition framework.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) The program manager shall, throughout the acquisition process, promote full and open competition and sustain effective competition between alternative major system concepts and sources, as long as it is economically beneficial and practicable to do so. Notice of the proposed acquisition shall be given the broadest and most effective circulation practicable throughout the business, academic, and Government communities. Foreign contractors, technology, and equipment may be considered when it is feasible and permissible to do so. (b) The contracting officer should time solicitation issuance and contract award to maintain continuity of concept development during the transition from with-drawing concept proposer to new contractor.