Federal Contracting Acronym
CSO
Commercial Solutions Opening
Plain-English definition
Commercial Solutions Openings invite solutions without a full FAR Part 15 RFP structure; agencies use them to prototype and adopt commercial technology faster than traditional acquisitions.
Why it matters
CSOs favor concise technical pitches and rapid awards for nontraditional vendors.
Where you will see it
Agency innovation offices, DIU-style solicitations, and commercial-item FAR Part 12 buys.
Example in context
When reviewing a solicitation, a contractor confirms how CSO is used in the notice, whether related clauses apply, and which internal subject-matter experts should validate the response.