<section xmlns="http://xml.house.gov/schemas/uslm/1.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" style="-uslm-lc:I80" id="idbde730d5-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301"><num value="3301">§ 3301.</num><heading> Full and open competition</heading><subsection style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0" id="idbde730d6-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/a"><num value="a">(a)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">In General</inline>.—</heading><chapeau>Except as provided in sections 3303, 3304(a), and 3305 of this title and except in the case of procurement procedures otherwise expressly authorized by statute, an executive agency in conducting a procurement for property or services shall—</chapeau><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="idbde730d7-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/a/1"><num value="1">(1)</num><content> obtain full and open competition through the use of competitive procedures in accordance with the requirements of this division and the Federal Acquisition Regulation; and</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="idbde730d8-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/a/2"><num value="2">(2)</num><content> use the competitive procedure or combination of competitive procedures that is best suited under the circumstances of the procurement.</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0" id="idbde730d9-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/b"><num value="b">(b)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Appropriate Competitive Procedures.—</inline></heading><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="idbde730da-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/b/1"><num value="1">(1)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Use of sealed bids</inline>.—</heading><chapeau>In determining the competitive procedures appropriate under the circumstance, an executive agency shall—</chapeau><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2" id="idbde730db-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/b/1/A"><num value="A">(A)</num><chapeau> solicit sealed bids if—</chapeau><clause style="-uslm-lc:I14" class="indent3" id="idbde730dc-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/b/1/A/i"><num value="i">(i)</num><content> time permits the solicitation, submission, and evaluation of sealed bids;</content>
</clause>
<clause style="-uslm-lc:I14" class="indent3" id="idbde730dd-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/b/1/A/ii"><num value="ii">(ii)</num><content> the award will be made on the basis of price and other price-related factors;</content>
</clause>
<clause style="-uslm-lc:I14" class="indent3" id="idbde730de-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/b/1/A/iii"><num value="iii">(iii)</num><content> it is not necessary to conduct discussions with the responding sources about their bids; and</content>
</clause>
<clause style="-uslm-lc:I14" class="indent3" id="idbde730df-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/b/1/A/iv"><num value="iv">(iv)</num><content> there is a reasonable expectation of receiving more than one sealed bid; or</content>
</clause>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2" id="idbde730e0-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/b/1/B"><num value="B">(B)</num><content> request competitive proposals if sealed bids are not appropriate under subparagraph (A).</content>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="idbde730e1-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/b/2"><num value="2">(2)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Sealed bid not required</inline>.—</heading><content>Paragraph (1)(A) does not require the use of sealed-bid procedures in cases in which section 204(e) <ref class="footnoteRef" idref="fn002007">1</ref><note type="footnote" id="fn002007"><num>1</num> See References in Text note below.</note> of title 23 applies.</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0" id="idbde730e2-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984" identifier="/us/usc/t41/s3301/c"><num value="c">(c)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Efficient Fulfillment of Government Requirements</inline>.—</heading><content>The Federal Acquisition Regulation shall ensure that the requirement to obtain full and open competition is implemented in a manner that is consistent with the need to efficiently fulfill the Federal Government’s requirements.</content>
</subsection>
<sourceCredit id="idbde730e3-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984">(<ref href="/us/pl/111/350/s3">Pub. L. 111–350, § 3</ref>, <date date="2011-01-04">Jan. 4, 2011</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/124/3745">124 Stat. 3745</ref>.)</sourceCredit>
<notes type="uscNote" id="idbde730e4-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984">
<note topic="historicalAndRevision" id="idbde730e5-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984">
<table xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="HNR" width="50%" style="border-collapse:collapse;  border-bottom:1px solid black; -uslm-lc: c3,L2,tp7,s10,xls64,xs90,tp7,s10,xls64,xs90; " id="idbde730e6-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984">
<colgroup>
<col style="min-width: 44pt;"/>
<col style="width:68pt ; max-width:68pt;"/>
<col style="width:94pt ; max-width:94pt;"/>
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="title" style="font-size:7pt; border-bottom:1px solid black; -uslm-lc:I95;">
<th colspan="3">
<p style=""><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Historical and Revision Notes</span></p></th>
</tr>
<tr class="header" style="font-size:6pt; border-bottom:1px solid black;  border-top:1px solid black; -uslm-lc:h1;">
<th style="min-width: 44.0pt; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; border-right:1px solid black;"><p style=" text-align:center; margin-bottom:0em;"><i>Revised</i></p><p style=" text-align:center; margin-top:0em;"><i>Section</i></p></th><th style="width:68.0pt ; max-width:68.0pt; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black;"><p style=" text-align:center;"><i>Source (U.S. Code)</i></p></th><th style="width:94.0pt ; max-width:94.0pt; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; border-left:1px solid black;"><p style=" text-align:center;"><i>Source (Statutes at Large)</i></p></th></tr>
</thead>
<tbody style="line-height:7pt; font-size:6pt;">
<tr style="border-top:1px solid black; -uslm-lc:I01;"><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid black; padding-right:2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;" class="leaders"><span>3301(a)</span></p></td><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; padding-right:2pt; padding-left: 2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;">41:253(a)(1).</p></td><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-left:1px solid black; padding-left: 2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;"><a href="/us/act/1949-06-30/ch288">June 30, 1949, ch. 288</a>, title III, § 303(a), <a href="/us/stat/63/395">63 Stat. 395</a>; <a href="/us/act/1952-07-12/ch703/s1/m">July 12, 1952, ch. 703, § 1(m)</a>, <a href="/us/stat/66/594">66 Stat. 594</a>; <a href="/us/pl/90/268/s2">Pub. L. 90–268, § 2</a>, <span class="date">Mar. 16, 1968</span>, <a href="/us/stat/82/49">82 Stat. 49</a>; <a href="/us/pl/98/369/tVII/s2711/a/1">Pub. L. 98–369, title VII, § 2711(a)(1)</a>, <span class="date">July 18, 1984</span>, <a href="/us/stat/98/1175">98 Stat. 1175</a>; <a href="/us/pl/103/355/tI/s1051/1">Pub. L. 103–355, title I, § 1051(1)</a>, <span class="date">Oct. 13, 1994</span>, <a href="/us/stat/108/3260">108 Stat. 3260</a>.</p></td></tr>
<tr style="-uslm-lc:I01;"><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid black; padding-right:2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;" class="leaders"><span>3301(b)(1)</span></p></td><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; padding-right:2pt; padding-left: 2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;">41:253(a)(2).</p></td><td style=" text-align:right; vertical-align:top; border-left:1px solid black; padding-left: 2pt;"/></tr>
<tr style="-uslm-lc:I01;"><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid black; padding-right:2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;" class="leaders"><span>3301(b)(2)</span></p></td><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; padding-right:2pt; padding-left: 2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;">41:252(c)(2).</p></td><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-left:1px solid black; padding-left: 2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;"><a href="/us/act/1949-06-30/ch288">June 30, 1949, ch. 288</a>, title III, § 302(c)(2), as added <a href="/us/pl/98/369/tVII/s2714/a/1/B">Pub. L. 98–369, title VII, § 2714(a)(1)(B)</a>, <span class="date">July 18, 1984</span>, <a href="/us/stat/98/1184">98 Stat. 1184</a>.</p></td></tr>
<tr style="-uslm-lc:I01;"><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid black; padding-right:2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;" class="leaders"><span>3301(c)</span></p></td><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; padding-right:2pt; padding-left: 2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;">41:253(h).</p></td><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-left:1px solid black; padding-left: 2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;"><a href="/us/act/1949-06-30/ch288">June 30, 1949, ch. 288</a>, title III, § 303(h), as added <a href="/us/pl/104/106/tXLI/s4101/b/2">Pub. L. 104–106, title XLI, § 4101(b)(2)</a>, <span class="date">Feb. 10, 1996</span>, <a href="/us/stat/110/642">110 Stat. 642</a>.</p></td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" role="crossHeading" topic="editorialNotes" id="idbde730e7-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984"><heading class="centered"><b>Editorial Notes</b></heading></note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I75" topic="referencesInText" id="idbde730e8-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984">
<heading class="centered smallCaps">References in Text</heading><p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><ref href="/us/usc/t23/s204">Section 204 of title 23</ref>, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), was repealed and a new section 204 enacted by <ref href="/us/pl/112/141/dA/tI/s1119/a">Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1119(a)</ref>, <date date="2012-07-06">July 6, 2012</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/126/473">126 Stat. 473</ref>, 489.</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" role="crossHeading" topic="statutoryNotes" id="idbde730e9-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984"><heading class="centered"><b>Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries</b></heading></note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="miscellaneous" id="idbde730ea-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Regulations</heading><p><ref href="/us/pl/113/291/dA/tVIII/s836">Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title VIII, § 836</ref>, <date date="2014-12-19">Dec. 19, 2014</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/128/3449">128 Stat. 3449</ref>, provided that: <quotedContent origin="/us/pl/113/291/dA/tVIII/s836">“Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [<date date="2014-12-19">Dec. 19, 2014</date>], the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy shall prescribe regulations providing that when the Federal Government makes a purchase of services and supplies offered under the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (managed by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy) but such Initiative is not used, the contract file for the purchase shall include a brief analysis of the comparative value, including price and nonprice factors, between the services and supplies offered under such Initiative and services and supplies offered under the source or sources used for the purchase.”</quotedContent>
</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="miscellaneous" id="idbde730eb-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Construction</heading><p><ref href="/us/pl/98/369/dB/tVII/s2711/c">Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title VII, § 2711(c)</ref>, <date date="1984-07-18">July 18, 1984</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/98/1181">98 Stat. 1181</ref>, provided that: <quotedContent origin="/us/pl/98/369/dB/tVII/s2711/c">“The amendments made by this section [see Tables for classification] do not supersede or affect the provisions of section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (<ref href="/us/usc/t15/s637/a">15 U.S.C. 637(a)</ref>).”</quotedContent>
</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="miscellaneous" id="idbde730ec-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Pilot Programs for Authority To Acquire Innovative Commercial Items Using General Solicitation Competitive Procedures</heading><p><ref href="/us/pl/114/328/dA/tVIII/s880">Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, § 880</ref>, <date date="2016-12-23">Dec. 23, 2016</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/130/2313">130 Stat. 2313</ref>, as amended by <ref href="/us/pl/115/232/dA/tVIII/s836/f/10">Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 836(f)(10)</ref>, <date date="2018-08-13">Aug. 13, 2018</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/132/1872">132 Stat. 1872</ref>; <ref href="/us/pl/117/263/dG/tLXXII/s7227/a">Pub. L. 117–263, div. G, title LXXII, § 7227(a)</ref>, <date date="2022-12-23">Dec. 23, 2022</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/136/3675">136 Stat. 3675</ref>, provided that:<quotedContent origin="/us/pl/117/263/dG/tLXXII/s7227/a">
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="a">“(a)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Authority.—</inline></heading><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="1">“(1)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">In general</inline>.—</heading><content>The head of an agency may carry out a pilot program, to be known as a ‘commercial solutions opening pilot program’, under which innovative commercial products may be acquired through a competitive selection of proposals resulting from a general solicitation and the peer review of such proposals.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="2">“(2)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Head of an agency</inline>.—</heading><chapeau>In this section, the term ‘head of an agency’ means the following:</chapeau><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="A">“(A)</num><content> The Secretary of Homeland Security.</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="B">“(B)</num><content> The Administrator of General Services.</content>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="3">“(3)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Applicability of section</inline>.—</heading><chapeau>This section applies to the following agencies:</chapeau><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="A">“(A)</num><content> The Department of Homeland Security.</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="B">“(B)</num><content> The General Services Administration.</content>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="b">“(b)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Treatment as Competitive Procedures</inline>.—</heading><content>Use of general solicitation competitive procedures for the pilot program under subsection (a) shall be considered, in the case of the Department of Homeland Security and the General Services Administration, to be use of competitive procedures for purposes of division C of [subtitle I of] title 41, United States Code (as defined in section 152 of such title).</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="c">“(c)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Limitation</inline>.—</heading><content>The head of an agency may not enter into a contract under the pilot program for an amount in excess of $25,000,000.</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="d">“(d)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Guidance</inline>.—</heading><content>The head of an agency shall issue guidance for the implementation of the pilot program under this section within that agency. Such guidance shall be issued in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget and shall be posted for access by the public.</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="e">“(e)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Report Required.—</inline></heading><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="1">“(1)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">In general</inline>.—</heading><content>Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act [<date date="2016-12-23">Dec. 23, 2016</date>], the head of an agency shall submit to the congressional committees specified in paragraph (3) a report on the activities the agency carried out under the pilot program.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="2">“(2)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Elements of report</inline>.—</heading><chapeau>Each report under this subsection shall include the following:</chapeau><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="A">“(A)</num><content> An assessment of the impact of the pilot program on competition.</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="B">“(B)</num><chapeau> A comparison of acquisition timelines for—</chapeau><clause style="-uslm-lc:I24" class="indent3"><num value="i">“(i)</num><content> procurements made using the pilot program; and</content>
</clause>
<clause style="-uslm-lc:I24" class="indent3"><num value="ii">“(ii)</num><content> procurements made using other competitive procedures that do not use general solicitations.</content>
</clause>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="C">“(C)</num><content> A recommendation on whether the authority for the pilot program should be made permanent.</content>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="3">“(3)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Specified congressional committees</inline>.—</heading><content>The congressional committees specified in this paragraph are the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] of the House of Representatives.</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="f">“(f)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Definitions</inline>.—</heading><chapeau>In this section—</chapeau><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="1">“(1)</num><chapeau> the term ‘commercial product’—</chapeau><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="A">“(A)</num><content> has the meaning given the term ‘commercial item’ in section 2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation; and</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="B">“(B)</num><content> includes a commercial product or a commercial service, as defined in sections 103 and 103a, respectively, of title 41, United States Code; and</content>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="2">“(2)</num><chapeau> the term ‘innovative’ means—</chapeau><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="A">“(A)</num><content> any new technology, process, or method, including research and development; or</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I23" class="indent2"><num value="B">“(B)</num><content> any new application of an existing technology, process, or method.</content>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="g">“(g)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Termination</inline>.—</heading><content>The authority to enter into a contract under a pilot program under this section terminates on <date date="2027-09-30">September 30, 2027</date>.”</content>
</subsection>
</quotedContent>
</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="miscellaneous" id="idbde730ed-2930-11f1-b693-d6ef857d0984"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Governmentwide Software Purchasing Program</heading><p><ref href="/us/pl/113/291/dA/tVIII/s837">Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title VIII, § 837</ref>, <date date="2014-12-19">Dec. 19, 2014</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/128/3450">128 Stat. 3450</ref>, provided that:<quotedContent origin="/us/pl/113/291/dA/tVIII/s837">
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="a">“(a)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">In General</inline>.—</heading><content>The Administrator of General Services shall identify and develop a strategic sourcing initiative to enhance Governmentwide acquisition, shared use, and dissemination of software, as well as compliance with end user license agreements.</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="b">“(b)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Governmentwide User License Agreement</inline>.—</heading><content>The Administrator, in developing the initiative under subsection (a), shall allow for the purchase of a license agreement that is available for use by all Executive agencies (as defined in <ref href="/us/usc/t5/s105">section 105 of title 5</ref>, United States Code) as one user to the maximum extent practicable and as appropriate.”</content>
</subsection>
</quotedContent>
</p>
</note>
</notes>
</section>