41 U.S.C. § 152: Competitive procedures

procurement of architectural or engineering services conducted in accordance with chapter 11 of title 40; the competitive selection of basic research proposals resulting from a general solicitation and the peer review or scientific review (as appropriate) of those proposals; participation in the program has been open to all responsible sources; and orders and contracts under those procedures result in the lowest overall cost alternative to meet the needs of the Federal Government; procurements conducted in furtherance of section 15 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 644 ) as long as all responsible business concerns that are entitled to submit offers for those procurements are permitted to compete; and a competitive selection of research proposals resulting from a general solicitation and peer review or scientific review (as appropriate) solicited pursuant to section 9 of that Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638 ).