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FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 246: Quality Assurance › Subpart 246.7

DFARS 246.704 Authority for use of warranties.

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 the chief of the contracting office to approve the use of a warranty in most acquisitions, except for certain categories like commercial products or services. The approval must be based on a determination that the benefits of the warranty are expected to outweigh its cost.

Applies to: Contracting officers and their chiefs when considering warranty requirements in defense contracts.

What it requires

  • Obtain approval from the chief of the contracting office before using a warranty, unless an exception applies.
  • Ensure the chief of the contracting office approves the warranty only when benefits are expected to outweigh the cost.

Key terms: warranty · chief of the contracting office · commercial products · commercial services · technical data

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

The text

(1) The chief of the contracting office must approve use of a warranty, except in acquisitions for—

(i) Commercial products or commercial services (see FAR 46.709);

(ii) Technical data, unless the warranty provides for extended liability (see 246.708);

(iii) Supplies and services in fixed-price type contracts containing quality assurance provisions that reference higher-level contract quality requirements (see 246.202-4); or

(iv) Supplies and services in construction contracts when using the warranties that are contained in Federal, military, or construction guide specifications.

(2) The chief of the contracting office shall approve the use of a warranty only when the benefits are expected to outweigh the cost.

Sections it refers to

  • 46.709 Warranties of commercial products and commercial services.
  • 246.708 Warranties of data.
  • 246.202-4 Higher-level contract quality requirements.

← 246.702-70 Definitions. · 246.705 Limitations. →

Rule changes for DFARS Part 246

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

DFARS 246.704 Authority for use of warranties · SpendQuery