Sole Source Justification

When Is a Sole Source Justification Required?

Anytime a contracting officer wants to bypass competitive bidding, they must prepare a J&A citing one of seven statutory exceptions in FAR 6.302:

• 6.302-1: Only one responsible source (unique capability, proprietary technology)
• 6.302-2: Unusual and compelling urgency
• 6.302-3: Industrial mobilization or engineering development
• 6.302-4: International agreement
• 6.302-5: Authorized or required by statute (includes 8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone sole-source authority)
• 6.302-6: National security
• 6.302-7: Public interest

What Goes in a Sole Source Justification?

A complete J&A includes: description of the requirement, identification of the statutory authority, rationale explaining why full competition isn't feasible, a market research summary, determination that the price is fair and reasonable, and a description of efforts to remove barriers to competition for future acquisitions.

Approval Thresholds

The approval level depends on the contract value: under $750K requires only the contracting officer; $750K–$15M needs the head of contracting activity; $15M–$75M requires the senior procurement executive; and over $75M requires the head of agency. This means larger sole source awards face more scrutiny.

How Vendors Can Leverage This

If you have a genuinely unique capability, proactively provide contracting officers with the technical evidence they need to write a J&A. A well-crafted capabilities statement that explains why no one else can do what you do makes it easier for the CO to justify a sole source award to you. This is especially powerful for firms with 8(a) or SDVOSB certifications, which have dedicated sole-source authority.