FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 204: Administrative and Information Matters › Subpart 204.74
DFARS 204.7401 Definitions.
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 defines key terms used in the DFARS subpart on litigation support contractors. It explains what counts as computer software, litigation information, litigation support, litigation support contractor, sensitive information, and technical data. These definitions matter because they determine how the related rules apply to contractors performing litigation support work.
Applies to: Contractors and subcontractors providing litigation support under contracts with the clause at 252.204-7014
Key terms: Computer software · Litigation information · Litigation support · Litigation support contractor · Sensitive information
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
As used in this subpart—
Computer software means computer programs, source code, source code listings, object code listings, design details, algorithms, processes, flow charts, formulae, and related material that would enable the software to be reproduced, recreated, or recompiled. Computer software does not include computer data bases or computer software documentation.
Litigation information means any information, including sensitive information, that is furnished to the contractor by or on behalf of the Government, or that is generated or obtained by the contractor in the performance of litigation support under a contract. The term does not include information that is lawfully, publicly available without restriction, including information contained in a publicly available solicitation.
Litigation support means administrative, technical, or professional services provided in support of the Government during or in anticipation of litigation.
Litigation support contractor means a contractor (including its experts, technical consultants, subcontractors, and suppliers) providing litigation support under a contract that contains the clause at 252.204-7014, Limitations on the Use or Disclosure of Information by Litigation Support Contractors.
Sensitive information means controlled unclassified information of a commercial, financial, proprietary, or privileged nature. The term includes technical data and computer software, but does not include information that is lawfully, publicly available without restriction.
Technical data means recorded information, regardless of the form or method of the recording, of a scientific or technical nature (including computer software documentation). The term does not include computer software or data incidental to contract administration, such as financial and/or management information.
Sections it refers to
- 252.204-7014 Limitations on the Use or Disclosure of Information by Litigation Support Contractors.
← 204.7400 Scope of subpart. · 204.7402 Policy. →
Rule changes for DFARS Part 204
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Assessing Contractor Implementation of Cybersecurity Requirements (DFARS Case 2019-D041) ↗ · final rule 2025-09-10 · effective 2025-11-10
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Inapplicability of Additional Defense-Unique Laws and Certain Non-Statutory DFARS Clauses to Commercial Item Contracts (DFARS Case 2018-D074) ↗ · final rule 2024-11-15 · effective 2024-11-25
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-09-26 · effective 2024-10-01
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Data Universal Numbering System to Unique Entity Identifier Transition (DFARS Case 2022-D023) ↗ · final rule 2024-09-26 · effective 2024-10-01
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Modification of Notification of Intent To Transport Supplies by Sea (DFARS Case 2020-D026) ↗ · final rule 2024-09-26 · effective 2024-10-01
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Assessing Contractor Implementation of Cybersecurity Requirements (DFARS Case 2019-D041) ↗ · proposed 2024-08-15 · comments due 2024-10-15
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-07-29 · effective 2024-07-29
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Modification of Notification of Intent To Transport Supplies by Sea (DFARS Case 2020-D026) ↗ · proposed 2024-03-26 · comments due 2024-05-28
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.