FAR 6.100—Scope of subpart.
Plain-English Summary
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.
Key Rules
Promote full competition
The subpart’s purpose is to promote full and open competition in federal acquisitions. This means the rules in the subpart are designed to ensure opportunities are broadly available rather than restricted without justification.
Provide competition procedures
The subpart prescribes the policy and procedures to be used to achieve that competition. In practice, contracting personnel must look to the rest of Subpart 6.1 for the procedural requirements that implement the competition policy.
Scope is limited to this subpart
FAR 6.100 is a scope provision, not a standalone competition rule. It identifies what the subpart covers and signals that the detailed requirements, exceptions, and implementation steps appear in the remaining sections of Subpart 6.1 and related parts of FAR Part 6.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Use the policy and procedures in Subpart 6.1 when planning and conducting acquisitions, with the goal of promoting full and open competition unless another FAR provision authorizes a different approach.
Agency
Structure acquisition policies and internal procedures so they support the competition requirements established by this subpart and the broader competition framework in FAR Part 6.
Contractor
Understand that federal procurements are generally intended to be competed under this policy framework and prepare to compete in an environment shaped by full and open competition requirements.
Practical Implications
This section is the entry point for competition analysis, so contracting officers should treat it as a reminder to start with competition as the default assumption.
Because it is only a scope statement, it does not provide the full rule set; users must read the rest of Subpart 6.1 and related FAR provisions to apply the requirements correctly.
A common pitfall is treating this section as if it authorizes or explains exceptions to competition; it does not. Those authorities must come from other FAR sections.
For contractors, the practical effect is that most federal opportunities are intended to be competed, so proposal strategy should assume a competitive environment unless the solicitation or acquisition strategy clearly indicates otherwise.
For agencies, the section reinforces the need for acquisition planning and documentation that support competition rather than bypass it without proper authority.
Official Regulatory Text
This subpart prescribes the policy and procedures that are to be used to promote and provide for full and open competition.