FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 242: Contract Administration and Audit Services › Subpart 242.7
DFARS 242.771-3 Responsibilities.
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 assigns responsibilities for determining the allowability of independent research and development (IR&D) and bid and proposal (B&P) costs, and for reporting on these costs. It also requires the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to establish a method for sharing information between DoD and contractors about technology needs and IR&D projects. Contractors should be aware that their IR&D and B&P costs will be reviewed by administrative contracting officers and that DCAA will report on these costs annually.
Applies to: DoD contractors and DoD components involved in IR&D and B&P cost allowability and reporting
Key terms: IR&D costs · B&P costs · administrative contracting officer (ACO) · Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) · OUSD(R&E)
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) The cognizant administrative contracting officer (ACO) or corporate ACO shall determine cost allowability of IR&D costs and bid and proposal (B&P) costs as set forth in 231.205-18 and FAR 31.205-18.
(b) The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) shall—
(1) For the DoD-wide B&P program, submit an annual report to the Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in connection with 10 U.S.C. 3763(c); the Defense Contract Management Agency or the military department responsible for performing contract administration functions is responsible for providing DCAA with statistical information, as necessary; and
(2) For IR&D costs and B&P costs incurred under any DoD contract in the previous Government fiscal year, submit an annual report to the congressional defense committees as required by 10 U.S.C. 3847.
(c) The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), is responsible for establishing a regular method for communication—
(1)(i) From DoD to contractors, of timely and comprehensive information regarding planned or expected needs of DoD for future technology and advanced capability, by posting information on communities of interest and upcoming meetings on the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) website at https://defenseinnovationmarketplace.dtic.mil/communities-of-interest; and
(ii) From contractors to DoD, of brief technical descriptions of contractor IR&D projects; and
(2) By providing OUSD(R&E) contact information: [email protected].
Sections it refers to
- 231.205-18 Independent research and development and bid and proposal costs.
- 31.205-18 Independent research and development and bid and proposal costs.
Sections that refer to it
- 231.205-18 Independent research and development and bid and proposal costs.
- 242.302 Contract administration functions.
← 242.771-2 Policy. · 242.803 Disallowing costs after incurrence. →
Rule changes for DFARS Part 242
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2025-08-25 · effective 2025-08-25
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Definition of Material Weakness (DFARS Case 2021-D006) ↗ · final rule 2025-01-17 · effective 2025-01-17
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Cost and Software Data Reporting for Major Weapons Systems (2021-D028) ↗ · proposed 2024-10-10 · comments due 2024-12-09
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Preference for United States Vessels in Transporting Supplies By Sea (DFARS Case 2021-D020) ↗ · final rule 2024-09-26 · effective 2024-10-01
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-07-29 · effective 2024-07-29
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Definition of Material Weakness (DFARS Case 2021-D006) ↗ · proposed 2024-06-27 · comments due 2024-08-26
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Preference for United States Vessels in Transporting Supplies by Sea (DFARS Case 2021-D020) ↗ · proposed 2024-04-25 · comments due 2024-06-24
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.