[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR435.43]

[Page 1122-1123]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
               CHAPTER III--SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
 
  PART 435_UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTS AND AGREEMENTS 
 
                    Subpart C_Post-Award Requirements
 
Sec. 435.43  Competition.

    All procurement transactions must be conducted in a manner to 
provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free competition. The 
recipient must be alert to organizational conflicts of interest as well 
as noncompetitive practices among contractors that may restrict or 
eliminate competition or otherwise restrain trade. In order to ensure 
objective contractor performance and eliminate unfair competitive 
advantage, contractors that develop or draft specifications, 
requirements, statements of work, invitations for

[[Page 1123]]

bids and/or requests for proposals must be excluded from competing for 
such procurements. Awards must be made to the bidder or offeror whose 
bid or offer is responsive to the solicitation and is most advantageous 
to the recipient, price, quality and other factors considered. 
Solicitations must clearly set forth all requirements that the bidder or 
offeror must fulfill in order for the bid or offer to be evaluated by 
the recipient. Any and all bids or offers may be rejected when it is in 
the recipient's interest to do so.