Sole source award
Also called: sole source, sole source contract, J&A, justification and approval, noncompetitive award, brand name justification
A sole source award is a contract issued without full competition because the agency has justified, in writing, that only one source can meet the need or that a statutory exception such as an 8(a) sole source applies.
Federal competition is the default under FAR Part 6; the exceptions are listed in FAR 6.302, and each requires a Justification and Approval (J&A) written under FAR 6.303 and approved at the level FAR 6.304 sets by dollar value. Buys under the simplified acquisition threshold use the lighter justification in FAR 13.106-1(b). The 8(a) program has its own sole source authority in FAR 19.805-1, as do HUBZone, SDVOSB and WOSB within the limits in FAR 19.13, 19.14 and 19.15.
What to check: whether a J&A was posted on SAM.gov (FAR 6.305 requires it for most awards), whether an intent to sole source notice invites capability statements from other firms (it does, and responding can force competition), and whether your certification gives an agency a lawful path to award to you directly.
What it is not: something a vendor files for. The agency writes the justification; the vendor's job is to make it easy and defensible.
See also: 8(a) Business Development Program, Set-aside, Contracting officer (CO or KO), Simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), SBIR and STTR
Questions that use this term
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