FAR 6.102—Use of competitive procedures.
Plain-English Summary
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.
Key Rules
Sealed Bidding Is a Competitive Procedure
Sealed bids are one of the core competitive procedures for full and open competition. When sealed bidding is appropriate, it is used under the rules in FAR 6.401(a).
Competitive Proposals Are the Default Alternative
If sealed bidding is not appropriate, contracting officers must request competitive proposals or use another authorized competitive procedure. This makes negotiated competition the primary fallback when sealed bidding does not fit the requirement.
Combination Procedures Are Allowed
The FAR permits contracting officers to use any combination of competitive procedures when sealed bidding is not appropriate. Two-step sealed bidding is an example of a mixed approach that still qualifies as competitive.
Architect-Engineer Selection Counts
Selection of sources for architect-engineer contracts under 40 U.S.C. 1102 et seq. is a competitive procedure. These acquisitions must follow the specialized procedures in FAR subpart 36.6.
Certain Research Competitions Qualify
Competitive selection of basic and applied research, and development not tied to a specific system or hardware procurement, is a competitive procedure only when award results from a broad agency announcement and a peer or scientific review. The announcement must be broad, open to capable offerors, and include selection criteria.
Multiple Award Schedules Are Competitive
Use of the General Services Administration multiple award schedule program, when issued under the Administrator’s procedures consistent with 41 U.S.C. 152(3)(A), is treated as a competitive procedure. This recognizes schedule ordering as a valid competitive method under the FAR.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Determine which competitive procedure is appropriate for the requirement, starting with sealed bidding when suitable and otherwise using competitive proposals, a combination of procedures, or another authorized competitive method. The contracting officer must also follow the specialized rules for architect-engineer acquisitions, research announcements, and multiple award schedule use.
Agency
Structure acquisitions so that requirements are competed through one of the recognized competitive procedures when full and open competition is required. Agencies must ensure their acquisition planning and source selection practices align with the applicable FAR subparts and statutory authorities.
Offerors/Contractors
Compete under the procedure chosen by the government, whether sealed bidding, negotiated proposals, architect-engineer selection, research announcement competition, or schedule-based ordering. Contractors must understand the format, evaluation method, and submission requirements for the specific competitive procedure.
GSA Administrator
Establish and maintain the multiple award schedule procedures that qualify as a competitive procedure under the FAR, consistent with the governing statute.
Practical Implications
This section is a gateway rule: it tells the contracting officer what counts as competition before deciding how to solicit and award a contract.
A common pitfall is treating a requirement as if it can be competed under any method without checking whether sealed bidding is appropriate or whether a specialized competitive procedure applies.
For architect-engineer and research acquisitions, the government cannot use ordinary competition rules alone; it must follow the specific statutory and FAR procedures tied to those categories.
Multiple award schedule use is not just a purchasing convenience; under the FAR it is a recognized competitive procedure, but only when used under the proper GSA framework.
Contractors should pay close attention to the competition format because the rules for responsiveness, discussions, evaluation, and award differ significantly across sealed bids, proposals, and other competitive procedures.
Official Regulatory Text
The competitive procedures available for use in fulfilling the requirement for full and open competition are as follows: (a) Sealed bids . (See 6.401 (a).) (b) Competitive proposals . (See 6.401 (b).) If sealed bids are not appropriate under paragraph (a) of this section, contracting officers shall request competitive proposals or use the other competitive procedures under paragraph (c) or (d) of this section. (c) Combination of competitive procedures . If sealed bids are not appropriate, contracting officers may use any combination of competitive procedures ( e.g., two-step sealed bidding). (d) Other competitive procedures. (1) Selection of sources for architect-engineer contracts in accordance with the provisions of 40 U.S.C. 1102 et seq . is a competitive procedure (see subpart 36.6 for procedures). (2) Competitive selection of basic and applied research and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement is a competitive procedure if award results from- (i) A broad agency announcement that is general in nature identifying areas of research interest, including criteria for selecting proposals, and soliciting the participation of all offerors capable of satisfying the Government’s needs; and (ii) A peer or scientific review. (3) Use of multiple award schedules issued under the procedures established by the Administrator of General Services consistent with the requirement of 41 U.S.C. 152(3)(A) for the multiple award schedule program of the General Services Administration is a competitive procedure.