Section 22.305 - General policy and requirement for competition(a) It is DoD policy to maximize use of competition in the award of grants and cooperative agreements. This also conforms with:(1)31 U.S.C. 6301(3) , which encourages the use of competition in awarding all grants and cooperative agreements.(2)10 U.S.C. 2374(a) , which sets out Congressional policy that any new grant for research, development, test, or evaluation be awarded through merit-based selection procedures.(b) Grants officers shall use merit-based, competitive procedures (as defined by § 22.315 ) to award grants and cooperative agreements: (1) In every case where required by statute (e.g., 10 U.S.C. 2361 , as implemented in § 22.310 , for certain grants to institutions of higher education).(2) To the maximum extent practicable in all cases where not required by statute.