Section 2320(b)(1) of Title 10 U.S.C. establishes a presumption that commercial items are developed at private expense whether or not a contractor submits a justification in response to a challenge notice. Therefore, do not challenge a contractor's assertion that a commercial item, component, or process was developed at private expense unless the Government can demonstrate that it contributed to development of the item, component or process. Follow the procedures in 227.7103-13 and the clause at 252.227-7037, Validation of Restrictive Markings on Technical Data, when information provided by the Department of Defense demonstrates that an item, component, or process was not developed exclusively at private expense. However, when a challenge is warranted, a contractor's or subcontractor's failure to respond to the challenge notice cannot be the sole basis for issuing a final decision denying the validity of an asserted restriction.
