Federal Contracting Acronym
FAR
Federal Acquisition Regulation
Plain-English definition
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is codified in Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations and establishes uniform policies for federal acquisition. Contracting officers incorporate FAR parts, subparts, and standard clauses into solicitations and contracts; offerors map proposal volumes and compliance matrices to those requirements. The FAR interacts with agency supplements (for example DFARS for Defense) and with the Federal Acquisition Circular process that updates the regulation. Contractors use the FAR to interpret competition standards, contract types, socioeconomic programs, cost principles, and post-award administration rules. It is not a contract by itself, but nearly every federal contract cites FAR clauses that must be flowed down to subcontractors when required.
Why it matters
Misreading a FAR clause can disqualify a proposal, create unallowable cost exposure, or trigger compliance findings during audit. Capture and proposal teams treat the FAR as the baseline legal framework for bid decisions and for structuring technical, past performance, and pricing volumes.
Where you will see it
SAM.gov solicitations, Section H clauses, contract award documents, flow-down requirements in subcontracts, and DCAA/IG audit requests.
Example in context
A notice states evaluation under FAR Part 15 with specific FAR 52.212 clauses; the proposal lead builds a compliance matrix mapping each clause to a response section before color-team review.
Related acronyms
- 8C
- AAC
- AC
- AP
- AS
- AS2
- AS4
- ACWP
- AS3
- ALLOWABLE COST
- AC2
- API
- AP2
- BR
- BCWP
- BCWS
- BID PROTEST
- BC
- BUY AMERICAN
- BE
- CV
- CAO
- CAR
- CAS
- CASB
- CCPD
- CFD
- CFED
- CA2
- CLAIM
- CLIN
- CS4
- CMS
- CO
- CS
- CR2
- CONMON
- CS2
- CD2
- CN3
- CD
- CA
- CR
- CS3
- CPOC
- CSO
- CN
- CV2
- DBE
- DCAA
- DD 1155
- DD 1423
- DD 1594
- DD 1610
- DD 1639
- DD 1659
- DD 441
- DD 882
- DAG
- DN
- DFARS
- DF
- DISPUTE
- DA
- DE
- DL
- DT2
- DLMS
- DT
- DOI
- DS
- E QIP
- E-VERIFY
- ER
- EPA
- EA
- EV
- EVMS
- EC
- OPTION EXERCISE
- FAA
- FAC
- FAR 13
- FAR 15
- FCA
- FCI
- FFATA
- FD
- FR
- FT
- FP
- FN
- FPRR
- GFE
- GFI
- GFP
- GC
- HAZMAT
- HC
- HC3
- HUD
- HC2
- ICR
- ICS
- IMP
- IMS
- IK
- IS
- IC
- IV
- ISSM
- ISSO
- IUID
- J&A
- JPAS
- JA
- KC
- KD
- LETTER CONTRACT
- LH
- LT
- LE
- MARKET RESEARCH
- MF
- MPA
- MILSTRIP
- MIRR
- MOD
- MN
- MOPR
- MFC
- MSA
- NAICS
- NCR
- NDA
- NT
- NISP
- NISPOM
- NOAA
- NOVATION
- NG
- OBS
- OCI
- OMB
- OPM
- OP
- ON
- PAR
- PPE
- PCL
- PBP
- PS
- PS2
- PS3
- PIIN
- PNM
- PAO
- PAS
- PRAN
- PR3
- PR
- PRIME
- PG
- PP
- PA
- PROPERTY CONTROL
- PR2
- PSC
- PV
- QML
- QPL
- RC
- RESPONSIBI
- RESPONSIBILITY DETERMINATION
- RR
- RFP
- RS
- SA
- SAT
- SG
- SP3
- SP2
- SR
- SU
- SBOM
- SC4
- SC3
- SECTION 508
- SF 1034
- SF 1035
- SF 1408
- SF 1411
- SF 1423
- SF 1442
- SF 18
- SF 312
- SF 424
- SF 86
- SF LLL
- SC2
- SC
- SS
- SSAP
- SSA
- SSO
- SWO
- SUBCONTRACTOR
- SV
- TCPI
- TDP
- TE
- TEMPEST
- T4C
- T4D
- TIBA
- TOC
- TRADEOFF
- UCA
- UV
- UID
- UNALLOWABLE COST
- USAID
- UA
- USDA
- VR
- VC
- VD
- WC
- ZD