FAR 16.500 Scope of subpart
Section Federal Acquisition Regulation
Facts
- Citation
- FAR 16.500
- Type
- Section
- Last amended
- 85 FR 11746 Effective Mar 30, 2020
- Proposed changes
- 1
- Text as of
- FAC 2026-01
- Official text
- acquisition.gov
Text from acquisition.gov. Federal Register history from the Federal Register's records of the rules that amended this section.
Text
(a) This subpart prescribes policies and procedures for making awards of indefinite-delivery contracts and establishes a preference for making multiple awards of indefinite-quantity contracts.
(b) This subpart does not limit the use of other than competitive procedures authorized by part 6.
(c) Nothing in this subpart restricts the authority of the General Services Administration (GSA) to enter into schedule, multiple award, or task or delivery order contracts under any other provision of law. Therefore, GSA regulations and the coverage for the Federal Supply Schedule program in subpart 8.4 and part 38 take precedence over this subpart.
(d) The statutory multiple award preference implemented by this subpart does not apply to architect-engineer contracts subject to the procedures in subpart 36.6. However, agencies are not precluded from making multiple awards for architect-engineer services using the procedures in this subpart, provided the selection of contractors and placement of orders are consistent with subpart 36.6.
(e) See subpart 19.5 for procedures to set aside part or parts of multiple-award contracts for small businesses; to reserve one or more awards for small business on multiple-award contracts; and to set aside orders for small businesses under multiple-award contracts.
Federal Register history
Proposed changes
| Proposed rule | Published | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35 | Closed Oct 19, 2026No final rule found |
Sections cited
- FAR Part 6 Competition Requirements
- FAR Subpart 8.4 Federal Supply Schedules
- FAR Part 38 Federal Supply Schedule Contracting
- FAR Subpart 36.6 Architect-Engineer Services
- FAR Subpart 19.5 Small Business Total Set-Asides, Partial Set-Asides, and Reserves
Quick answers
What is FAR 16.500?
FAR 16.500 is a section of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, titled "Scope of subpart".
When was FAR 16.500 last changed?
The most recent final rule on record is "Federal Acquisition Regulation; Set-Asides Under Multiple-Award Contracts" (85 FR 11746), published Feb 27, 2020 and effective Mar 30, 2020.
Are changes to FAR 16.500 proposed?
One proposed change has no final rule yet.
On GovTribe
Follow the rules behind federal contracts
- Search Federal Register rules and proposed rules for the FAR, DFARS and agency supplements
- Solicitations, awards and government files in one search
- Ask GovTribe AI about the rules that apply to a contract