Title 41Public ContractsRelease 119-73not60

§3703 Competitive Proposals

Title 41 › Subtitle Subtitle I— Federal Procurement Policy › Chapter 37— AWARDING OF CONTRACTS › § 3703

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

An executive agency must evaluate competitive proposals under section 3701(a). It may award a contract after discussions if it talked with all offerors in the competitive range, or it may award without discussions (except minor clarifications) if the solicitation said so under section 3306(b)(2)(B)(i). The contracting officer may limit the competitive range so competition stays efficient. The agency must promptly award to the most advantageous responsible offeror, notify the winner in writing or electronically, and tell other offerors they were rejected within 3 days after the award.

Full Legal Text

Title 41, §3703

Public Contracts — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)An executive agency shall evaluate competitive proposals in accordance with section 3701(a) of this title and may award a contract—
(1)after discussions with the offerors, provided that written or oral discussions have been conducted with all responsible offerors who submit proposals within the competitive range; or
(2)based on the proposals received and without discussions with the offerors (other than discussions conducted for the purpose of minor clarification), if, as required by section 3306(b)(2)(B)(i) of this title, the solicitation included a statement that proposals are intended to be evaluated, and award made, without discussions unless discussions are determined to be necessary.
(b)If the contracting officer determines that the number of offerors that would otherwise be included in the competitive range under subsection (a)(1) exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the contracting officer may limit the number of proposals in the competitive range, in accordance with the criteria specified in the solicitation, to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the offerors rated most highly in accordance with those criteria.
(c)Except as otherwise provided in section 3701(b) of this title, the executive agency shall award a contract with reasonable promptness to the responsible source whose proposal is most advantageous to the Federal Government, considering only cost or price and the other factors included in the solicitation.
(d)The executive agency shall award the contract by transmitting, in writing or by electronic means, notice of the award to that source and, within 3 days after the date of contract award, shall notify, in writing or by electronic means, all other offerors of the rejection of their proposals.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3703(a)41:253b(d)(1).June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title III, § 303B(d), as added Pub. L. 98–369, title VII, § 2711(a)(2), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1180; Pub. L. 103–355, title I, §§ 1061(c)(3), 1063(b), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3267, 3268; Pub. L. 104–106, title XLI, § 4103(b), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 644. 3703(b)41:253b(d)(2). 3703(c)41:253b(d)(3) (1st sentence). 3703(d)41:253b(d)(3) (last sentence).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

41 U.S.C. § 3703

Title 41Public Contracts

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60