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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 23: Environment, Sustainable Acquisition, and Material Safety › Subpart 23.3

FAR 23.302 Hazardous material identification and notice of material safety data.

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 requires offerors and contractors to submit Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) when the supplies being acquired are hazardous materials. It ensures that the Government is informed about workplace hazards so that employees can be properly protected. Contractors must provide MSDSs at specific times, such as before contract award and, for non-DoD agencies, again at delivery.

Applies to: Offerors and contractors providing hazardous materials to the Government

What it requires

  • Submit hazardous materials data (MSDSs) whenever the supplies being acquired are identified as hazardous materials.
  • Submit MSDSs as specified in the latest version of Federal Standard No. 313, including revisions adopted during the contract term.
  • Submit MSDSs for any other material designated by a Government technical representative as potentially hazardous and requiring safety controls.
  • By the apparent successful offeror, submit MSDSs prior to contract award if hazardous materials are expected to be used during contract performance.

Key terms: hazardous materials · Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) · Federal Standard No. 313 · apparent successful offeror · Government technical representative

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

The text

(a) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for issuing and administering regulations that require Government activities to apprise their employees of—

(1) All hazards to which they may be exposed;

(2) Relative symptoms and appropriate emergency treatment; and

(3) Proper conditions and precautions for safe use and exposure.

(b) To accomplish this objective, it is necessary to obtain certain information relative to the hazards which may be introduced into the workplace by the supplies being acquired. Accordingly, offerors and contractors are required to submit hazardous materials data whenever the supplies being acquired are identified as hazardous materials. The latest version of Federal Standard No. 313 (Material Safety Data Sheet, Preparation and Submission of) includes criteria for identification of hazardous materials.

(c) Hazardous material data (Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS's)) are required—

(1) As specified in the latest version of Federal Standard No. 313 (including revisions adopted during the term of the contract);

(2) For any other material designated by a Government technical representative as potentially hazardous and requiring safety controls.

(d) MSDS's must be submitted—

(1) By the apparent successful offeror prior to contract award if hazardous materials are expected to be used during contract performance.

(2) For agencies other than the Department of Defense, again by the contractor with the supplies at the time of delivery.

(e) The contracting officer shall provide a copy of all MSDS's received to the safety officer or other designated individual.

Sections that refer to it

← 23.301 Definition. · 23.303 Notice of radioactive materials. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 23

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

FAR 23.302 Hazardous material identification and notice of material safety data · SpendQuery