Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Full Definition

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the principal set of rules used by all executive agencies when acquiring supplies and services with appropriated funds. Published in Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the FAR is jointly maintained by the Department of Defense (DoD), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the FAR Council. It is organized into 53 parts covering the entire procurement lifecycle: acquisition planning, competition requirements, contract types, socioeconomic programs, solicitation procedures, evaluation criteria, contract administration, and closeout. Each agency may issue its own FAR supplement — the most significant being the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) — which adds agency-specific policies and clauses. The FAR is updated regularly through Federal Acquisition Circulars (FACs) published in the Federal Register.

Why It Matters

For small businesses entering government contracting, focusing on key FAR parts will accelerate your learning curve. Part 12 covers commercial item acquisitions and simplified procedures that benefit small vendors. Part 15 governs contracting by negotiation, including how proposals are evaluated. Part 19 is critical — it contains all small business programs including 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB set-asides. The 52.2xx series defines standard contract clauses you will encounter in every solicitation. Bookmark FAR Part 31 for cost allowability rules and Part 32 for payment provisions. Each agency supplement (DFARS, GSAM, etc.) adds requirements, so always check the applicable supplement for your target agency. Free access is available at acquisition.gov.

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