Federal glossary · Process
Responsibility Determination (FAR 9.104) is the contracting officer's assessment of whether a prospective contractor is capable of performing the contract. General standards include: adequate financial resources, ability to meet delivery schedule, satisfactory performance record, satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics, necessary organization/experience/skills, and necessary equipment and facilities. An offeror found non-responsible cannot receive an award.
Example: Respond to an RFI, RFP, or Sources Sought notice.
Reference record · Sources: Federal Acquisition Regulation · Verified Jul 2, 2026 · Covers definition, governing source
Also known as
Responsibility Determination (FAR 9.104) is the contracting officer's assessment of whether a prospective contractor is capable of performing the contract. General standards include: adequate financial resources, ability to meet delivery schedule, satisfactory performance record, satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics, necessary organization/experience/skills, and necessary equipment and facilities. An offeror found non-responsible cannot receive an award.
is a process concept federal contractors and grant writers run into across solicitations, regulations, and award filings
Responsibility Determination is a step or workflow in the federal-procurement lifecycle. For example: Example: Respond to an RFI, RFP, or Sources Sought notice. Knowing where Responsibility Determination fits in the larger acquisition arc — from market research through award through performance — helps contractors time their engagement, identify the right contracting officials, and avoid showing up too late to influence the requirement. Many proposal failures trace back to misunderstanding when Responsibility Determination occurs, who owns it, and what artifacts it produces. The related terms above name the adjacent process steps that most commonly precede or follow Responsibility Determination, and tracking those transitions over time is one of the more reliable ways to build pipeline visibility ahead of formal solicitations.
Example: Respond to an RFI, RFP, or Sources Sought notice.
Meaning in practice
Responsibility Determination is a step in a government workflow or procurement lifecycle.
Where you’ll see it
You will see it in NOFOs, solicitations, evaluation sections, award letters, and procedural instructions. Example: Example: Respond to an RFI, RFP, or Sources Sought notice..
Common confusion
People often confuse the document that describes the process with the process itself.
What to do next
Identify the deadline, owner, and artifacts the process produces before you move forward.
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