FAR 7.107-1—General.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 7.107-1 is the gateway provision for the federal consolidation-and-bundling rules. It explains when the rest of FAR 7.107 applies, how to treat requirements that are both consolidated and bundled, and when the section’s requirements are carved out entirely. In practice, it tells agencies whether they must follow the bundling procedures in FAR 7.107-3, 7.107-4, and 7.107-5, and it identifies three major exceptions: acquisitions subject to an OMB Circular A-76 cost comparison, certain orders under single-agency task-order or delivery-order contracts, and requirements satisfied by mandatory sources under FAR 8.002 or 8.003. It also clarifies important limits on the mandatory-source exception, including when a waiver or exception applies and when optional acquisitions under FAR 8.713 are involved. For contracting officers and acquisition planners, this section matters because it determines whether they must document, justify, and process a requirement as a consolidation/bundling action or whether the requirement falls outside FAR 7.107 altogether.
Key Rules
Bundled and consolidated requirements
If a requirement is both consolidated and bundled, the agency must follow the bundling guidance in FAR 7.107-3, 7.107-4, and 7.107-5. This means the more specific bundling procedures control when the acquisition combines work in a way that may affect small business participation.
A-76 cost comparisons are excluded
The requirements of FAR 7.107 do not apply when the agency will perform a cost comparison analysis under OMB Circular A-76, except that FAR 7.107-4 still applies. In other words, most of the consolidation/bundling framework is displaced by the A-76 process, but the specific requirement in 7.107-4 remains relevant.
Certain task and delivery orders are excluded
FAR 7.107 does not apply to orders placed under single-agency task-order or delivery-order contracts when the requirement was already considered in deciding that the underlying contract’s consolidation or bundling was necessary and justified. The rule prevents duplicative review of the same requirement at the order level.
Mandatory sources are generally exempt
FAR 7.107 does not apply to requirements that must be obtained from a mandatory source under FAR 8.002 or 8.003, including the AbilityOne Procurement List and Federal Prison Industries products or services. These acquisitions are treated as outside the normal consolidation/bundling analysis because the source is prescribed by law or regulation.
Mandatory-source exceptions still matter
The mandatory-source exemption does not apply when the requiring agency obtains a waiver under FAR 8.604 or an exception under FAR 8.605 or 8.706, or when optional acquisitions permitted under FAR 8.713 are included. In those situations, the agency cannot rely on the mandatory-source carveout to avoid the FAR 7.107 analysis.
Responsibilities
Agency
Determine whether a requirement is consolidated, bundled, or both, and decide whether FAR 7.107 applies or an exception removes the requirement from this section. When the requirement is both consolidated and bundled, ensure the bundling guidance in FAR 7.107-3, 7.107-4, and 7.107-5 is followed.
Contracting Officer
Apply the correct regulatory path before proceeding with the acquisition, including checking for A-76 applicability, prior consideration in an underlying single-agency task-order or delivery-order contract, and mandatory-source status. The contracting officer must also recognize when a waiver, exception, or optional acquisition removes the mandatory-source exemption.
Requiring Activity / Acquisition Planner
Identify early whether the requirement will be satisfied through a mandatory source, an A-76 cost comparison, or an order under an existing single-agency task-order or delivery-order contract. Provide the information needed to support the agency’s determination and avoid unnecessary bundling analysis or missed compliance steps.
Small Business / Socioeconomic Policy Officials
Review acquisitions that are consolidated or bundled to ensure the agency applies the bundling rules when required and does not incorrectly bypass them. Help confirm whether an exception truly applies before the acquisition proceeds.
Practical Implications
This section is mainly a threshold test: before doing any bundling analysis, the agency must decide whether FAR 7.107 even applies. Getting that wrong can lead to missing required documentation, notices, or approvals.
A common pitfall is assuming that any order under an existing contract is automatically exempt. The exemption only applies when the requirement was already considered in determining that the underlying contract’s consolidation or bundling was necessary and justified.
Another frequent mistake is treating mandatory-source acquisitions as always exempt. If the agency has a waiver, an exception, or is using optional acquisitions under FAR 8.713, the exemption may not apply and the FAR 7.107 analysis may be required.
For A-76 actions, agencies must remember that most of FAR 7.107 is displaced, but FAR 7.107-4 still applies. That means the acquisition team should not stop at the A-76 label without checking the remaining applicable requirement.
Practically, this section helps agencies avoid duplicative reviews and ensures small business and sourcing rules are applied only where intended. Contractors should watch for whether an acquisition is being structured as a bundled action or as a mandatory-source purchase, because that affects competition, market access, and the timing of the procurement.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) If the requirement is considered both consolidated and bundled, the agency shall follow the guidance regarding bundling in 7.107-3 , 7.107-4 , and 7.107-5 . (b) The requirements of this section 7.107 do not apply- (1) If a cost comparison analysis will be performed in accordance with OMB Circular A-76 (except 7.107-4 still applies); (2) To orders placed under single-agency task-order contracts or delivery-order contracts, when the requirement was considered in determining that the consolidation or bundling of the underlying contract was necessary and justified; or (3) To requirements for which there is a mandatory source (see 8.002 or 8.003 ), including supplies and services that are on the Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled or the Schedule of Products issued by Federal Prison Industries, Inc. This exception does not apply– (i) When the requiring agency obtains a waiver in accordance with 8.604 or an exception in accordance with 8.605 or 8.706 ; or (ii) When optional acquisitions of supplies and services permitted under 8.713 are included.