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This PGI section supplements: DFARS 217.7504 · FAR 17.7504
The corresponding FAR Part 17 and DFARS Part 217 have been overhauled under the RFO. PGI replacement text is provided in the RFO deviation attachment. View FAR Part 17

Current Content

When acquiring a part for which the Government does not have necessary data with rights to use in a specification or drawing for competitive acquisition, use one of the following procedures in order of preference:

(1) When items of identical design are not required, the acquisition may still be conducted through full and open competition by using a performance specification or other similar technical requirement or purchase description that does not contain data with restricted rights. Two methods are—

(i) Two-step sealed bidding; and

(ii) Brand name or equal purchase descriptions.

(2) When other than full and open competition is authorized under FAR Part 6, acquire the part from the firm that developed or designed the item or process, or its licensees, provided productive capacity and quality are adequate and the price is fair and reasonable.

(3) When additional sources are needed and the procedures in paragraph (1) of this section are not practicable, consider the following alternatives:

(i) Encourage the developer to license others to manufacture the parts;

(ii) Acquire the necessary rights in data;

(iii) Use a leader company acquisition technique (FAR Subpart 17.4) when complex technical equipment is involved and establishing satisfactory additional sources will require technical assistance as well as data; or

(iv) Incorporate a priced option in the contract that allows the Government to require the contractor to establish a second source.

(4) As a last alternative, the contracting activity may develop a design specification for competitive acquisition through reverse engineering. Contracting activities shall not do reverse engineering unless—

(i) Significant cost savings can be demonstrated; and

(ii) The action is authorized by the head of the contracting activity.

Change History

Detected Type Summary
detected 2026-04-17 [PGI] PGI_MODIFIED PGI 217.7504 updated: 13 lines added, 1 lines removed
View diff
--- previous
+++ current
@@ -1 +1,13 @@
-Follow the procedures at PGI 217.7504 when acquiring parts for which the Government does not have the necessary data.+When acquiring a part for which the Government does not have necessary data with rights to use in a specification or drawing for competitive acquisition, use one of the following procedures in order of preference:
+(1) When items of identical design are not required, the acquisition may still be conducted through full and open competition by using a performance specification or other similar technical requirement or purchase description that does not contain data with restricted rights. Two methods are--
+(i) Two-step sealed bidding; and
+(ii) Brand name or equal purchase descriptions.
+(2) When other than full and open competition is authorized under FAR Part 6, acquire the part from the firm that developed or designed the item or process, or its licensees, provided productive capacity and quality are adequate and the price is fair and reasonable.
+(3) When additional sources are needed and the procedures in paragraph (1) of this section are not practicable, consider the following alternatives:
+(i) Encourage the developer to license others to manufacture the parts;
+(ii) Acquire the necessary rights in data;
+(iii) Use a leader company acquisition technique (FAR Subpart 17.4) when complex technical equipment is involved and establishing satisfactory additional sources will require technical assistance as well as data; or
+(iv) Incorporate a priced option in the contract that allows the Government to require the contractor to establish a second source.
+(4) As a last alternative, the contracting activity may develop a design specification for competitive acquisition through reverse engineering. Contracting activities shall not do reverse engineering unless--
+(i) Significant cost savings can be demonstrated; and
+(ii) The action is authorized by the head of the contracting activity.
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