# 48 CFR § 216.401-71: 216.401-71 Objective criteria

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.401-71

## Section

- **Citation:** 48 CFR § 216.401-71
- **Heading:** 216.401-71 Objective criteria
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 48—Federal Acquisition Regulations System > CHAPTER 2—DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > SUBCHAPTER C—CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES > PART 216—TYPES OF CONTRACTS > Subpart 216.4—Incentive Contracts

## 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 CFR § 216.102 216.102 Policies.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.102.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.104 216.104 Factors in selecting contract type.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.104.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.104-70 216.104-70 Research and development.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.104-70.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.203-4 216.203-4 Contract clauses.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.203-4.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.203-4-70 216.203-4-70 Additional provisions and clauses.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.203-4-70.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.301-3 216.301-3 Limitations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.301-3.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.306 216.306 Cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.306.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.307 216.307 Contract clauses.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.307.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.401 216.401 General.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.401.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.401-71 216.401-71 Objective criteria.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.401-71.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.402-2 216.402-2 Performance incentives.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.402-2.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.403-1 216.403-1 Fixed-price incentive (firm target) contracts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.403-1.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.403-2 216.403-2 Fixed-price incentive (successive targets) contracts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.403-2.md)
- [48 CFR § 216.405-1 216.405-1 Cost-plus-incentive-fee contracts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.405-1.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-48-216.401-71. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
