FAR 6.000—Scope of part.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 6.000 is the scope statement for FAR Part 6, and it tells readers what this part is about and what it is not about. It covers the policies and procedures that promote full and open competition in federal acquisitions, including the rules for full and open competition, full and open competition after exclusion of sources, and contracting actions conducted using other than full and open competition. It also addresses the government’s broader obligation to advocate for competition in the acquisition process. Just as important, it draws a boundary around Part 6 by stating that it does not address the results of competition, such as whether a price is adequate because of competition; those issues are handled in other parts of the FAR, such as Part 15. In practice, this section matters because it tells contracting personnel and contractors where to look for the competition policy framework and prevents confusion between competition requirements and pricing or source-selection outcomes.
Key Rules
Part 6 sets competition policy
This part establishes the policies and procedures that govern how agencies promote and obtain competition in federal contracting. It is the primary FAR location for understanding the government’s competition framework.
Covers full and open competition
The part applies to acquisitions conducted with full and open competition, meaning the government seeks broad participation from responsible sources unless a valid exception applies.
Covers competition after exclusion
It also addresses full and open competition after exclusion of sources, which means competition is still used, but some sources have been lawfully excluded before competition begins.
Covers noncompetitive acquisitions
Part 6 includes procedures for acquisitions conducted using other than full and open competition, so it is relevant when an agency relies on a statutory or regulatory exception to competition.
Promotes competition advocacy
The part is not limited to formal competition methods; it also supports the broader policy of advocating for competition throughout the acquisition process.
Does not address competition results
Part 6 does not govern the outcome of competition, such as whether pricing is adequate because of competition. Those issues are addressed in other FAR parts, including Part 15.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officers
Apply the policies and procedures in Part 6 when planning and conducting acquisitions, determine whether full and open competition is required or whether an exception applies, and use the correct FAR part for issues involving competition methods versus competition results.
Agencies
Structure acquisition practices to promote full and open competition and support competition advocacy across the procurement process, while ensuring any exclusions from competition or noncompetitive actions are properly justified under applicable authority.
Contractors
Understand that Part 6 governs how the government competes requirements and when it may limit competition, but recognize that pricing adequacy, source selection, and other competition outcomes are addressed elsewhere in the FAR.
Practical Implications
This section is a roadmap: it tells acquisition personnel that Part 6 is about competition policy and procedures, not about evaluating whether competition produced a good price or award decision.
A common mistake is citing Part 6 for issues that belong in other FAR parts, especially questions about price adequacy, source selection, or evaluation results.
Contracting officers should use this scope statement to decide whether a procurement action belongs in the full-and-open framework, an excluded-source framework, or a noncompetitive justification path.
Contractors should read this section as a boundary marker: it helps them understand when competition rules apply, but it does not itself create rights to a particular award outcome.
Because the section is brief, its main practical value is organizational clarity—knowing where to find the rules that govern competition and where to look for rules governing the consequences of competition.
Official Regulatory Text
This part prescribes policies and procedures to promote full and open competition in the acquisition process and to provide for full and open competition, full and open competition after exclusion of sources, other than full and open competition, and advocates for competition. This part does not deal with the results of competition ( e.g., adequate price competition), that are addressed in other parts ( e.g., part 15 ).