FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 209: Contractor Qualifications › Subpart 209.1

DFARS 209.104-1 General standards.

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 DFARS section sets general standards for contractor responsibility. For cost-reimbursement, incentive, or progress-payment contracts, the contractor's accounting system and internal controls must provide reasonable assurance of compliance, reliable cost data, minimized misallocations, and consistency with invoice procedures. It also prohibits DoD contracts under national security programs to entities controlled by foreign governments if they need access to proscribed information, unless a waiver is granted.

Applies to: Prospective DoD contractors, especially those under cost-reimbursement, incentive, or progress-payment contracts, and entities controlled by foreign governments seeking contracts requiring access to p

What it requires

  • Ensure your accounting system and related internal controls provide reasonable assurance that applicable laws and regulations are complied with.
  • Ensure your accounting system and cost data are reliable.
  • Ensure the risk of misallocations and mischarges is minimized.
  • Ensure contract allocations and charges are consistent with invoice procedures.

Key terms: cost-reimbursement · incentive type contracts · progress payments based on costs · accounting system · internal controls

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

The text

(e) For cost-reimbursement or incentive type contracts, or contracts which provide for progress payments based on costs or on a percentage or stage of completion, the prospective contractor's accounting system and related internal controls must provide reasonable assurance that—

(i) Applicable laws and regulations are complied with;

(ii) The accounting system and cost data are reliable;

(iii) Risk of misallocations and mischarges are minimized; and

(iv) Contract allocations and charges are consistent with invoice procedures.

(g)(i) Ownership or control by the government of a country that is a state sponsor of terrorism. See 225.771.

(ii) Ownership or control by a foreign government when access to proscribed information is required to perform the contract. (A) Under 10 U.S.C. 4874(a), no DoD contract under a national security program may be awarded to an entity controlled by a foreign government if that entity requires access to proscribed information to perform the contract.

(B) Whenever the contracting officer has a question about application of the provision at 252.209-7002, the contracting officer may seek advice from the Security Directorate, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Human Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Security.

(C) In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 4874(b)(1)(A), the Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition in paragraph (g)(ii)(A) of this section upon determining that the waiver is essential to the national security interests of the United States. The Secretary has delegated authority to grant this waiver to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. Waiver requests, prepared by the requiring activity in coordination with the contracting officer, shall be processed through the Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment), and shall include a proposed national interest determination. The proposed national interest determination, prepared by the requiring activity in coordination with the contracting officer, shall include—

(1) Identification of the proposed awardee, with a synopsis of its foreign ownership (include solicitation and other reference numbers to identify the action);

(2) General description of the acquisition and performance requirements;

(3) Identification of the national security interests involved and the ways award of the contract helps advance those interests;

(4) The availability of another entity with the capacity, capability and technical expertise to satisfy defense acquisition, technology base, or industrial base requirements; and

(5) A description of any alternate means available to satisfy the requirement, e.g., use of substitute products or technology or alternate approaches to accomplish the program objectives.

(D) In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 4874(b)(1)(B), the Secretary of Defense may, in the case of a contract awarded for environmental restoration, remediation, or waste management at a DoD facility, waive the prohibition in paragraph (g)(ii)(A) of this section upon—

(1) Determining that—

(i) The waiver will advance the environmental restoration, remediation, or waste management objectives of DoD and will not harm the national security interests of the United States; and

(ii) The entity to which the contract is awarded is controlled by a foreign government with which the Secretary is authorized to exchange Restricted Data under section 144c. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2164(c)); and

(2) Notifying Congress of the decision to grant the waiver. The contract may be awarded only after the end of the 45-day period beginning on the date the notification is received by the appropriate Congressional committees.

Sections it refers to

  • 225.771 Prohibition on contracting or subcontracting with a firm that is owned or controlled by the government of a country that is a state sponsor of terrorism.
  • 252.209-7002 Disclosure of Ownership or Control by a Foreign Government.

← 209.104 Standards. · 209.104-4 Subcontractor responsibility. →

Rule changes for DFARS Part 209

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

DFARS 209.104-1 General standards · SpendQuery