|
|
Federal Acquisition Regulation: The Rulebook for Government ContractsMost often referred to as the “FAR”, the Federal Acquisition Regulation is a resource guide for government rules and procedures. The FAR is like the Bible for government contracting rules, processes, plus contract forms and clauses. If you’re doing business with the federal government or looking into it, you should have a basic understanding of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
The Federal Acquisition Regulation is comprised of over 1,000 pages and divided into 53 parts. Separate aspects of the acquisition process are featured in each part. General government acquisition matters are explained in the first six parts, and acquisition planning is featured in the next six parts. The remaining Federal Acquisition Regulations cover a range of topics, such as labor laws, simplified acquisitions (small purchases), contract administration, large dollar value buys, and applicable clauses and forms.
Although the FAR is the primary resource for acquisition regulations, each government agency may submit supplements to the Federal Acquisition Regulation. These Federal Acquisition Regulation supplements, although they can add up more than 1,000 pages, aren’t meant to be stand-alones. Be sure to read the supplements in conjunction with the FAR so you know the full scope of the regulations. Unfortunately, only a very small portion of the FAR supplements may apply to the contract at hand. This is why it’s important to ask the contracting officer which Federal Acquisition Regulations govern their acquisition procedure for the contract –it is critical to verify this before you bid or quote. Never assume anything — it could cost you the contract!
If you’re new to government contracting or a small business, you’ll want to read part 19 and part 52 of the FAR. These parts cover the standard terms and conditions contained in a government contract.
Interested in working with the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)? They have their own set of Federal Acquisitions Regulations, granted by congress. Although many provisions in the FAA are like the FAR, be careful and don’t assume that the FAA is very similar to the FAR.
Getting a Copy of the Federal Acquisition Regulation
You can obtain a copy of the Federal Acquisition Regulation from the Government Printing Office (GPO) by paying a fee. Make sure that if you place an order with the GPO for a copy of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the price includes any updates so you’ll have full details before you send in your bid or quote.
If you’d rather read the FAR online, visit http://farsite.hill.af.mil. Be sure to check when the webpage was last updated to make sure you’re getting the most current FAR supplement information.
|
|
|
|