# Write a sole-source justification that will survive review

A noncompetitive procurement justification with the legal basis, market research, and price reasonableness that auditors and procurement officers expect.

- Topic: Projects & Operations
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Advanced
- Tags: Research, Write, Analyze, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/write-a-sole-source-justification-that-will-survive-review

## Prompt

```text
Help me write a sole-source (noncompetitive) procurement justification.

**Procurement rules that apply:** [e.g. "federal FAR", "2 CFR 200 for grant-funded purchases", "state procurement code", "city purchasing ordinance"]
**What we need to buy and why:** [GOODS OR SERVICES, mission need]
**Proposed vendor:** [NAME]
**Estimated value and funding source:** [AMOUNT, fund or grant]
**Why only this vendor can meet the need:** [e.g. "proprietary system compatibility", "exclusive license", "emergency", "only responsive bidder after competition"]
**Market research done:** [who we contacted, what we searched, results]
**Price information:** [quotes, past prices, GSA or cooperative contract rates]

Draft the justification with these sections:
1. Description of the requirement and the need.
2. The specific authority or exception being relied on, quoted from the rules I name. If I have not supplied the text, write [ADD AUTHORITY] rather than guessing a citation.
3. Unique qualifications of the vendor, supported by facts rather than preference.
4. Market research: what was done, dates, and why alternatives were not viable.
5. Price reasonableness: how we know the price is fair.
6. Actions to enable competition next time (e.g. data rights, open standards, earlier planning).
7. Signature and approval blocks.

Then act as a skeptical reviewer: list the weakest points an auditor or protester would challenge and what evidence would strengthen each.

Rules: do not overstate uniqueness; convenience, staff familiarity, or lack of time due to poor planning are usually not valid grounds, so flag them if I rely on them. Have procurement staff or counsel confirm the authority before approval.
```

## What to fill in

- GOODS OR SERVICES, mission need
- NAME
- AMOUNT, fund or grant
- who we contacted, what we searched, results
- quotes, past prices, GSA or cooperative contract rates
- ADD AUTHORITY

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