XL EagleFAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation)
FAR stands for Federal Acquisition Regulation. The FAR is the main set of rules federal agencies follow when they buy anything, from lawn mowing to aircraft parts. It lives in Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1, and is organized into numbered parts. It covers how agencies plan purchases, advertise them, pick winners, write contracts, and manage the work afterward.
Most of what a contractor touches comes from the FAR, even if you never read it directly. Solicitations pull in FAR clauses by number, and those clauses become part of your contract. Individual agencies add their own supplements, such as DFARS for the Department of Defense, which sit on top of the FAR and add agency-specific rules.
Why it matters to a small contractor
You do not need to memorize the FAR, but you should know how to look up a clause number when it shows up in a solicitation. When a bid says it includes FAR 52.222-41 or FAR 52.212-4, those are real obligations you agree to by bidding. Spending ten minutes reading the clauses that affect pay, inspection, and payment can save you from a costly surprise later.
Example
A janitorial company sees 'FAR 52.222-41 Service Contract Labor Standards' in a cleaning solicitation. They look it up on acquisition.gov, learn they must pay at least the wage determination rates, and adjust their labor pricing before bidding.
FAR: common questions
What is the difference between FAR and DFARS?
The FAR applies to almost all federal executive agencies. DFARS is the Department of Defense supplement that adds extra rules for DoD purchases. On a defense contract you follow both.
Where can I read the FAR for free?
The official text is free on acquisition.gov and in the eCFR. Both let you search by part or clause number.
Is the FAR changing?
Yes. The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul is rewriting the FAR, and agencies have been using interim class deviations while formal rulemaking continues. Always read the clauses listed in the specific solicitation, since they control your contract.
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