Products that are commercially available, mass-produced, and sold to the general public or a broad commercial marketplace without requiring substantial modification to meet a customer’s needs. In government procurement, Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) products are often preferred because they can be acquired more quickly and cost-effectively than custom-developed solutions. The use of COTS products may also reduce technical risk, simplify procurement and maintenance, and streamline compliance with acquisition regulations. COTS is widely used in both public and private sector procurement, particularly for software, hardware, equipment, and standard commercial goods.
Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS)
Commercially available, mass-produced products bought without substantial modification, often preferred for speed and lower cost.
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Related Glossary Terms
The official compilation of permanent U.S. federal laws, providing the statutory basis for many contracting requirements.
A global classification system used to categorize products and services for procurement and spend analysis.
A unique 12-character identifier assigned via SAM.gov to organizations doing business with the federal government, replacing the DUNS number.
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