FAR Part 6 2026 Overhaul: Competition Simplified

FAR Part 6 governs federal procurement competition. The 2026 Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) introduces a simplified Part 6 via model deviation texts and agency deviations, preserving core statutory anchors (including advocates for competition and the use of competitive procedures) while removing nonstatutory text and redundancies. In 2025–2026, the FAR Council published model deviation text for Part 6, and agencies began adopting the changes through class deviations (e.g., GSA's RFO-2025-06), enabling a practical, transitional pathway to the fully codified Part 6 framework.

The 2026 Part 6 framework preserves statutory anchors but uses plainer language. Agencies implement via model deviation texts and agency class deviations, with an emphasis on presolicitation and competition planning. The framework continues to require full and open competition and the use of competitive procedures, while reorganizing sections to emphasize presolicitation and competition advocacy. See the Part 6 baseline and deviation guidance for specifics on policy, alternatives to competition, and the mapping of revised sections into practice.

For contractors, 2026 means reading the current agency deviation text to determine which Part 6 language applies to a given procurement. Expect continued emphasis on open competition, with potential new pathways for set-asides and alternatives to competition under the revised framework. Contractors should align bid strategies, D&F/documents, and evaluation plans with the agency’s deviations and the FAR Overhaul Companion Guide to ensure compliance and competitive positioning.