D. Exemption for Commercially-Available Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Items

Comment: One respondent agreed that COTS items should not be subject to the procedures at DFARS 234.7002(b) and (c), and recommended adding a more explicit statement, as paragraph (e), that "COTS items are exempt from the requirements of 234.7002."

DoD Response: DoD maintains that the inclusion of the parenthetical reference to a COTS is clear to the contracting officer and no additional statement is needed.