Federal Contracting Acronym
FAR 15
FAR Part 15 Contracting by Negotiation
Plain-English definition
FAR Part 15 Contracting by Negotiation (FAR 15) is a core federal acquisition term used in regulations, solicitations, and contract administration. Federal acquisition teams use this term when structuring competition, drafting solicitations, and administering contracts under the FAR framework. Contractors encounter it when interpreting clause libraries, compliance matrices, and award documents.
Why it matters
Teams that understand FAR Part 15 Contracting by Negotiation (FAR 15) avoid misinterpreting solicitations, contract clauses, and compliance obligations. It supports clearer bid/no-bid decisions and cleaner proposal compliance.
Where you will see it
Federal notices on SAM.gov, contract attachments, registration systems, audit requests, and internal capture/proposal documentation.
Example in context
When reviewing a solicitation, a contractor confirms how FAR 15 is used in the notice, whether related clauses apply, and which internal subject-matter experts should validate the response.