[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR1274.504]

[Page 458]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
                          SPACE ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 1274_COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH COMMERCIAL FIRMS--
Table of Contents
 
                  Subpart 1274.5_Procurement Standards
 
Sec. 1274.504  Competition.

    All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a manner to 
provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free competition. The 
recipient shall be alert to organizational conflicts of interest as well 
as noncompetitive practices among contractors that may restrict or 
eliminate competition or otherwise restrain trade. In order to ensure 
objective contractor performance and eliminate unfair competitive 
advantage, contractors that develop or draft specifications, 
requirements, statements of work, invitations for bids and/or requests 
for proposals shall normally be excluded from competing for such 
procurements, unless conflicts or apparent conflicts of interest issues 
have been resolved. Awards shall be made to the bidder or offeror whose 
bid or offer is responsive to the solicitation and is most advantageous 
to the recipient, price, quality and other factors considered. 
Solicitations shall clearly set forth all requirements that the bidder 
or offeror shall fulfill in order for the bid or offer to be evaluated 
by the recipient. Any and all bids or offers may be rejected when it is 
in the recipient's interest to do so.