FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation)
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the primary set of rules governing how U.S. executive-branch agencies acquire goods and services. Codified in Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations, it standardizes the procurement process — solicitation, evaluation, award, and administration — and supplies the contract clauses you’ll see incorporated into federal solicitations.
What the FAR governs
- The process: market research, competition requirements, solicitation methods, evaluation, award, and contract administration.
- The clauses: standardized terms (FAR 52.xxx) that get incorporated into contracts — by reference or in full.
- Thresholds: dollar lines that change how a buy is conducted, such as the micro-purchase threshold and the simplified acquisition threshold.
Agencies add their own supplements
On top of the FAR, agencies publish supplements — for example the DoD’s DFARS — that add or tailor rules. A DoD solicitation is governed by both the FAR and the DFARS.
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Analyze a solicitation →Frequently asked questions
What is the FAR in simple terms?
It’s the federal government’s standardized rulebook for buying things. The Federal Acquisition Regulation tells agencies how to run a procurement and supplies the standard contract clauses used in federal solicitations.
Where is the FAR published?
The FAR is codified in Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations and published at acquisition.gov, where you can browse parts, subparts, and the 52.xxx contract clauses.
What is the DFARS?
The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) is the Department of Defense’s supplement to the FAR. DoD acquisitions follow both the FAR and the DFARS.