FAR 6.300—Scope of subpart.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 6.300 is the scope statement for FAR Subpart 6.3, which governs contracting without full and open competition. It explains that this subpart provides the policies and procedures contracting officers must follow when competition is limited, and it identifies the statutory authorities that permit such awards. In practical terms, this section tells readers that the subpart is not itself a standalone exception; instead, it is the framework for using legal authorities that allow an agency to award a contract without full and open competition. The topics covered here include the policy basis for noncompetitive contracting, the procedural requirements that flow from those authorities, and the relationship between the FAR rules and the underlying statutes. For contracting officers, it signals that any noncompetitive award must be tied to a valid legal authority and handled under the procedures in this subpart. For contractors, it indicates that sole-source or otherwise limited-competition awards are governed by specific statutory and regulatory rules, not by discretion alone.
Key Rules
Subpart sets policy
This subpart establishes the policies and procedures for contracting without full and open competition. It is the governing framework for noncompetitive acquisitions under FAR Part 6.
Statutory authority required
Any action under this subpart must rest on a statutory authority that permits an exception to full and open competition. The section makes clear that the FAR procedures are tied to those legal authorities.
Procedures must be followed
When an agency uses a noncompetitive approach, it must follow the procedures prescribed in this subpart. The section signals that limited competition is not informal or ad hoc; it is regulated and documented.
Applies to limited competition
The scope covers contracting actions where full and open competition is not provided. It therefore addresses sole-source and other restricted-competition situations that fall within the subpart's authorities.
Framework, not exception itself
This section does not create the exceptions to competition; it identifies the rules for using them. The actual justification for bypassing full and open competition comes from the cited statutes and related FAR provisions.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Use the policies and procedures in this subpart whenever awarding without full and open competition, and ensure the action is supported by a valid statutory authority.
Agency
Apply the subpart’s framework consistently for noncompetitive contracting actions and ensure internal acquisition practices align with the statutory authorities identified here.
Contractor
Understand that limited-competition awards are governed by specific legal authorities and procedures, and recognize that such awards are not discretionary outside the FAR framework.
Practical Implications
A contracting officer cannot simply decide to skip competition; there must be a legal basis and the action must fit the procedures in Subpart 6.3.
This section is often the starting point for sole-source or other restricted-award reviews, so missing the underlying statutory authority is a common compliance risk.
Because the subpart is procedural and authority-based, documentation and justification become critical in practice even though this section itself is brief.
Contractors should not assume a noncompetitive award is improper just because it is not competed; the key question is whether the agency can point to a valid authority and follow the required process.
For acquisition teams, this section is a reminder to distinguish between the policy framework in FAR and the separate statute that actually permits the exception to competition.
Official Regulatory Text
This subpart prescribes policies and procedures, and identifies the statutory authorities, for contracting without providing for full and open competition.