FAR 6.1—Subpart 6.1

Scope of subpart.

FAR 6.100 is the scope statement for FAR Subpart 6.1, and it tells readers what this subpart is for: establishing the policy and procedures used to promote and provide for full and open competition in federal contracting. In practical terms, it is the gateway to the competition requirements that contracting officers must follow when planning and awarding contracts, and it frames the government’s default expectation that acquisitions be competed unless a valid exception applies elsewhere in Part 6. This section does not itself list the competition methods, exceptions, or approval steps, but it signals that the subpart governs how agencies should structure their procurement actions to maximize competition. For contractors, it matters because it underpins the competitive environment in which they may bid, and for contracting officers it is the starting point for ensuring acquisition planning and award decisions align with the Competition in Contracting Act framework. The section is brief, but it is foundational: it defines the policy objective and procedural focus for the rest of Subpart 6.1.

Policy.

FAR 6.101 states the core competition policy for federal contracting: contracting officers must promote and provide for full and open competition when soliciting offers and awarding Government contracts, except where a limited exception applies under FAR subparts 6.2 and 6.3. It also requires contracting officers to use the competitive procedures in FAR Part 6 that are best suited to the particular contract action while still meeting the Government’s needs efficiently. In practice, this section is the policy foundation for competition decisions across federal acquisitions, tying the statutory competition mandate in 10 U.S.C. 3201 and 41 U.S.C. 3301 to day-to-day source selection planning. It tells agencies that competition is the default, not the exception, and that the chosen procedure must fit the acquisition’s circumstances rather than simply follow habit. This section matters because it drives acquisition planning, market research, justification of exceptions, and the selection of sealed bidding, competitive proposals, or other authorized competitive methods. For contractors, it signals that most opportunities should be competed and that agencies must have a lawful basis before limiting competition.

Use of competitive procedures.

FAR 6.102 explains which acquisition methods count as "competitive procedures" for satisfying the Competition in Contracting Act requirement for full and open competition. It covers sealed bidding, competitive proposals, combinations of competitive procedures, and several other recognized competitive methods: architect-engineer source selection under the Brooks Act framework, competitive selection for basic and applied research and certain development using broad agency announcements and peer/scientific review, and use of the General Services Administration multiple award schedule program. In practice, this section tells contracting officers which procedures are legally acceptable when they are trying to compete a requirement, and it helps distinguish ordinary competition from other acquisition approaches that still qualify as competitive under the FAR. It also signals that if sealed bidding is not appropriate, the contracting officer should move to competitive proposals or another authorized competitive method rather than defaulting to a noncompetitive approach. For contractors, this section matters because it identifies the competition formats they may encounter and the rules that govern how they can qualify, respond, and compete.