48 CFR § 16.603-3 - 16.603-3 Limitations.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t48/s16.603-3"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "48 CFR § 16.603-3 - 16.603-3   Limitations."
title_number: 48
title_name: "Federal Acquisition Regulations System"
section_number: "16.603-3"
section_name: "16.603-3   Limitations."
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES"
part_number: "16"
part_name: "TYPES OF CONTRACTS"
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: "48 FR 42219, Sept. 19, 1983, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "16"
---


# 16.603-3 16.603-3   Limitations.

A letter contract may be used only after the head of the contracting activity or a designee determines in writing that no other contract is suitable. Letter contracts shall not—

(a) Commit the Government to a definitive contract in excess of the funds available at the time the letter contract is executed;

(b) Be entered into without competition when competition is required by part 6; or

(c) Be amended to satisfy a new requirement unless that requirement is inseparable from the existing letter contract. Any such amendment is subject to the same requirements and limitations as a new letter contract.

[48 FR 42219, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 50 FR 1742, Jan. 11, 1985; 50 FR 52429, Dec. 23, 1985; 51 FR 31426, Sept. 3, 1986]