For contracts that will be awarded using this authority, the notices required by FAR 5.201 shall have been published and any bids, proposals, quotations, or capability statements must have been considered.

The CO shall prepare the D&F and complete the justification to support use of public interest authority for other than full and open competition and submit it through the HCA to the Director, PAM, for further action.

(a) If other than full and open competition is recommended by the office initiating an acquisition requirement, the recommendation shall:

(1) Be in writing;

(2) Accompany the requisition;

(3) Contain the information required by FAR 6.303-2; and

(4) Request the CO to conduct a market survey by issuing a synopsis of the proposed contract action (see 1405.207). The initiating office shall evaluate and document all responses to the notice. The CO shall prepare the D&F that only one source can meet the Government's needs based on the evaluation results. The evaluation results shall be included in the justification as required by FAR 6.303-2(a)(8) if it is determined that only one source can meet the Government's needs.

(b) The procedure in paragraph (a) of this section is not required for proposed contract actions to be awarded under the authority in FAR 6.302-2 when the CO determines that preparation and approval of the justification would unreasonably delay the acquisition. Under these circumstances, a justification may be prepared and approved after award in accordance with FAR 6.303-1(d).

A class justification shall be approved in accordance with bureau procedures. Copies of approved class justifications shall be promptly transmitted to PAM.