Part 18 Emergency Acquisitions
Source: FAR 18 on acquisition.gov
FAR Part 18 empowers agencies to use special acquisition flexibilities and streamlined procedures to meet urgent needs during emergencies, ensuring rapid and effective government response.
Overview
FAR Part 18, Emergency Acquisitions, provides the regulatory framework for federal agencies to acquire goods and services rapidly and efficiently during emergencies, such as contingency operations, natural disasters, or other urgent situations. This part outlines both general and emergency-specific acquisition flexibilities, enabling contracting officers to bypass or modify standard procedures to meet urgent mission needs. It covers definitions, available flexibilities (such as streamlined solicitation, use of oral proposals, and single-source awards), and special authorities activated during emergencies. The structure includes Subpart 18.1, which details flexibilities always available, and Subpart 18.2, which addresses additional authorities triggered by specific emergency declarations or operations. The goal is to ensure agencies can respond quickly while maintaining appropriate oversight and compliance.
Subpart 18.1 - Available Acquisition Flexibilities
18.102 System for Award Management.
18.103 Synopses of proposed contract actions.
18.104 Unusual and compelling urgency.
18.106 Acquisitions from Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI).
18.107 AbilityOne specification changes.
18.108 Qualifications requirements.
18.109 Priorities and allocations.
18.110 Soliciting from a single source.
18.111 Oral requests for proposals.
18.113 Interagency acquisitions.
18.114 Contracting with the Small Business Administration (The 8(a) Program).
18.115 HUBZone sole source awards.
18.116 Service-disabled Veteran-owned Small Business (SDVOSB) sole source awards.
18.124 Electronic funds transfer.
18.126 Contractor rent-free use of Government property.
18.127 Extraordinary contractual actions.
Subpart 18.2 - Emergency Acquisition Flexibilities
18.202 Defense or recovery from certain events.
18.203 Emergency declaration or major disaster declaration.