Understanding the government's procurement rules is critical to your success as a government contractor. The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) system is the roadmap for doing business with the government.
The FAR was established to codify uniform policies for acquisition of supplies and services by executive agencies. It is issued and maintained jointly, pursuant to the OFPP Reauthorization Act, under the statutory authorities granted to the Secretary of Defense, Administrator of General Services and the Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Statutory authorities to issue and revise the FAR have been delegated to the Procurement Executives in DOD, GSA and NASA.
The FAR system is a comprehensive guide that is indexed by topic.
FAR FAQs
Q. How do I subscribe to the FAR?
A. For a subscription to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, contact the Superintendent of Documents at 202-512-1800.
Q. How often is the FAR updated?
A. The FAR at 48 CFR Chapter 1 is amended as needed. The loose-leaf circulars and the Internet version are updated as soon as possible after FAR rules are published in the Federal Register.
Q. Is this the "official" FAR?
A. Th FAR is codified at 48 CFR Chapter 1. If you find any inconsistencies or errors in this copy of the FAR, please contact the FAR Secretariat.
Q. My loose-leaf Federal Acquisition Circulars (FAC) has pages missing. How do I get a complete copy?
A. FACs may be downloaded at this site:
www.arnet.gov/far/fac.html or contact the Superintendent of Documents at (202) 512-1806 for problems with subscriptions.
Q. How can I get a copy of a particular loose-leaf FAC?
A. Individual loose-leaf FAC's are available for download at acquisition.gov/comp/far/facframe.html. They are not available from the Superintendent of Documents.
Procurement Policy
Federal procurement policy is administered through the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) in cooperation with other federal agencies and concerned organizations. The best and most current information about procurement policy can be obtained from a web site called Federal Acquisition Regulation (acquisition.gov/) and managed by OFPP. Use this resource to help you understand how to succeed as a contractor for the federal government.
Information courtesy of the Small Business Administration.
