48 CFR § 206.304 - 206.304 Approval of the justification.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t48/s206.304"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "48 CFR § 206.304 - 206.304   Approval of the justification."
title_number: 48
title_name: "Federal Acquisition Regulations System"
section_number: "206.304"
section_name: "206.304   Approval of the justification."
chapter_number: 2
chapter_name: "DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "ACQUISITION PLANNING"
part_number: "206"
part_name: "COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS"
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. 1303 and 48 CFR chapter 1."
regulatory_source: "56 FR 36303, July 31, 1991, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "206"
---


# 206.304 206.304   Approval of the justification.

(a)(4) The Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) may delegate this authority to—

(A) An Assistant Secretary of Defense; or

(B) For a defense agency, an officer or employee serving in, assigned, or detailed to that agency who—

(*1*) If a member of the armed forces, is serving in a rank above brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half); or

(*2*) If a civilian, is serving in a position with a grade under the General Schedule (or any other schedule for civilian officers or employees) that is comparable to or higher than the grade of major general or rear admiral.

(S-70) For a noncompetitive follow-on acquisition to a previous award for the same supply or service supported by a justification for other than full and open competition citing the authority at FAR 6.302-1, follow the procedures at PGI 206.304(a)(S-70).

(S-71) In accordance with section 823 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub. L. 116-92), the head of the procuring activity is the approval authority for a proposed sole-source 8(a) contract exceeding $100 million. This authority may only be delegated to an officer or employee who—

(1) If a member of the armed forces, is serving in a rank above brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half); or

(2) If a civilian, is serving in a position with a grade under the General Schedule (or any other schedule for civilian officers or employees) that is comparable to or higher than the grade of major general or rear admiral.

[61 FR 10285, Mar. 13, 1995, as amended at 61 FR 50451, Sept. 26, 1996; 65 FR 39704, June 27, 2000; 80 FR 21657, Apr. 20, 2015; 85 FR 34529, June 5, 2020; 88 FR 73236, Oct. 25, 2023]