FAR 6.200—Scope of subpart.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 6.200 is a scope statement for the competition rules in FAR Subpart 6.2. It explains that this subpart governs the policies and procedures used when an agency intends to provide for full and open competition, but only after excluding one or more sources from competing. In practice, this means the subpart addresses situations where competition is still the goal, yet the contracting approach limits who may compete because certain sources have been removed from consideration. The section is important because it frames when and how agencies may structure a competitive acquisition after excluding sources, and it signals that the agency must still follow the competition requirements that apply to that kind of acquisition. For contractors, it helps identify when a procurement may be competitive but not open to all potential offerors. For contracting officers and acquisition planners, it marks the boundary of the subpart and reminds them that the procedures here are specifically about full and open competition after source exclusion, not about unrestricted competition or sole-source awards.
Key Rules
Subpart scope only
This section does not create a standalone competition method; it simply states what FAR Subpart 6.2 covers. The subpart applies to policies and procedures for full and open competition after one or more sources have been excluded.
Competition remains the baseline
Even though sources are excluded, the acquisition is still intended to be conducted as a competitive procurement. The agency is not abandoning competition; it is competing among the remaining eligible sources.
Source exclusion is central
The defining feature of this subpart is that one or more sources have been excluded before competition occurs. The section signals that the rules in the subpart are triggered by that exclusion and govern how the resulting competition is handled.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Use the policies and procedures in this subpart when conducting a procurement that will be competed after excluding one or more sources. Ensure the acquisition is treated as a full-and-open-competition-after-exclusion action, not as an unrestricted competition or a noncompetitive award.
Agency
Structure the acquisition in a way that complies with the competition framework described by this subpart when sources are excluded. Make sure acquisition planning and solicitation strategy align with the applicable competition rules.
Contractor
Recognize that this type of procurement may be competitive but limited to certain sources. Review the solicitation carefully to determine whether the contractor is among the sources allowed to compete.
Practical Implications
This section is mainly a roadmap: it tells users where to look for the rules governing competition after source exclusion, rather than giving the detailed procedures itself.
A common mistake is assuming that any excluded-source procurement is noncompetitive; under this subpart, the agency is still pursuing full and open competition among the remaining sources.
Contractors should pay close attention to whether they were excluded from the competition framework, because that determines whether they can submit an offer.
Contracting officers should use this scope statement to confirm they are applying the correct FAR subpart and not mixing it with sole-source or other limited-competition authorities.
In day-to-day practice, the key issue is whether the acquisition planning and solicitation clearly reflect that competition is being conducted after excluding one or more sources.
Official Regulatory Text
This subpart prescribes policies and procedures for providing for full and open competition after excluding one or more sources.