# 48 C.F.R. § 216.401-71 (2026): Objective criteria

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_401_71

## Section

- **Citation:** 48 C.F.R. § 216.401-71 (2026)
- **Heading:** Objective criteria
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Title 48 CFR: Federal Acquisition Regulations System / Chapter 2: DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE / Part 216: TYPES OF CONTRACTS / Subpart 216.4: Subpart 216.4—Incentive Contracts / § 216.401-71: Objective criteria.

## Text

(1) Contracting officers shall use objective criteria to the maximum extent possible to measure contract performance. Objective criteria are associated with cost-plus-incentive-fee and fixed-price-incentive contracts.
(2) When objective criteria exist but the contracting officer determines that it is in the best interest of the Government also to incentivize subjective elements of performance, the most appropriate contract type is a multiple-incentive contract containing both objective incentives and subjective award-fee criteria (i.e., cost-plus-incentive-fee/award-fee or fixed-price-incentive/award-fee).
(3) See PGI 216.401(e) for guidance on the use of award-fee contracts.
[76 FR 8305, Feb. 14, 2011]

## Nearby sections

- [48 C.F.R. § 216.401 (2026) General.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_401.md)
- [48 C.F.R. § 216.401-71 (2026) Objective criteria.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_401_71.md)
- [48 C.F.R. § 216.402-2 (2026) Performance incentives.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_402_2.md)
- [48 C.F.R. § 216.403-1 (2026) Fixed-price incentive (firm target) contracts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_403_1.md)
- [48 C.F.R. § 216.403-2 (2026) Fixed-price incentive (successive targets) contracts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_403_2.md)
- [48 C.F.R. § 216.405-1 (2026) Cost-plus-incentive-fee contracts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_405_1.md)
- [48 C.F.R. § 216.405-2 (2026) Cost-plus-award-fee contracts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_405_2.md)
- [48 C.F.R. § 216.405-2-70 (2026) Award fee reduction or denial for jeopardizing the health or safety of Government personnel.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_405_2_70.md)
- [48 C.F.R. § 216.405-2-71 (2026) Award fee reduction or denial for failure to comply with requirements relating to performance of private security functions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_405_2_71.md)
- [48 C.F.R. § 216.406 (2026) Contract clauses.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_406.md)
- [48 C.F.R. § 216.470 (2026) Other applications of award fees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_470.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T48_P216_S216_401_71. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.