48 CFR § 15.001 - 15.001 Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t48/s15.001"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "48 CFR § 15.001 - 15.001   Definitions."
title_number: 48
title_name: "Federal Acquisition Regulations System"
section_number: "15.001"
section_name: "15.001   Definitions."
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES"
part_number: "15"
part_name: "CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "41 U.S.C. 1121(b); 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 4 and 10 U.S.C. chapter 137 legacy provisions (see 10 U.S.C. 3016); and 51 U.S.C. 20113."
regulatory_source: "62 FR 51230, Sept. 30, 1997, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "15"
---


# 15.001 15.001   Definitions.

As used in this part—

*Deficiency* is a material failure of a proposal to meet a Government requirement or a combination of significant weaknesses in a proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance to an unacceptable level.

*Proposal modification* is a change made to a proposal before the solicitation closing date and time, or made in response to an amendment, or made to correct a mistake at any time before award.

*Proposal revision* is a change to a proposal made after the solicitation closing date, at the request of or as allowed by a contracting officer, as the result of negotiations.

*Weakness* means a flaw in the proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance. A “significant weakness” in the proposal is a flaw that appreciably increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

[62 FR 51230, Sept. 30, 1997, as amended at 66 FR 2129, Jan. 10, 2001]