FAR Part 15: Contracting by Negotiation Practice Test

Competition is the default for contracting, and a favorable evaluation of an unsolicited proposal does not by itself justify a noncompetitive award. The government must either proceed with full and open competition or have a valid sole-source or other exception with proper justification under the FAR. A meritorious evaluation shows merit, but it does not eliminate the need to show that competition is impracticable or inappropriate. Price alone does not override these rules, and not every unsolicited proposal can be awarded noncompetitively.