Term “Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOTFOC)” refers to a critical document used in the governmental procurement process. This document is employed to provide the rationale behind allowing a contracting action to proceed without the standard full and open competition procedure. As the name suggests, JOTFOC is intended to justify why a particular contract should be exempt from the usual competitive acquisition process.
In practice, JOTFOC outlines the reasons why a certain contract or procurement activity has been earmarked for a specific supplier, rather than being open to bids from multiple potential providers. It may detail various considerations such as national security concerns, time sensitivity, or the specialist nature of the goods or services required. This document serves as a crucial reference point for auditing and accountability, ensuring that exceptions to the standard competitive procedure are made transparently and for sound reasons.
