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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 12: Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services › Subpart 12.2

FAR 12.212 Computer software.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This section says the Government acquires commercial computer software and its documentation under the licenses customarily offered to the public, as long as those licenses are consistent with Federal law and meet the Government's needs. It generally protects contractors from having to hand over technical information not normally given to the public or from giving the Government extra rights beyond what the parties agree to. The Government's rights are limited to those stated in the license included in any contract addendum.

Applies to: Acquisitions of commercial computer software and commercial computer software documentation

What it requires

  • Acquire commercial computer software or documentation under licenses customarily provided to the public, to the extent consistent with Federal law and satisfying the Government's needs

Key terms: commercial computer software · commercial computer software documentation · licenses customarily provided to the public · addendum to the contract

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

(a) Commercial computer software or commercial computer software documentation shall be acquired under licenses customarily provided to the public to the extent such licenses are consistent with Federal law and otherwise satisfy the Government's needs. Generally, offerors and contractors shall not be required to—

(1) Furnish technical information related to commercial computer software or commercial computer software documentation that is not customarily provided to the public; or

(2) Relinquish to, or otherwise provide, the Government rights to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose commercial computer software or commercial computer software documentation except as mutually agreed to by the parties.

(b) With regard to commercial computer software and commercial computer software documentation, the Government shall have only those rights specified in the license contained in any addendum to the contract. For additional guidance regarding the use and negotiation of license agreements for commercial computer software, see 27.405-3.

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 12.211 Technical data. · 12.213 Other commercial practices. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 12

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 12.212 Computer software · SpendQuery