FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 26: Other Socioeconomic Programs › Subpart 26.5
FAR 26.503 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 drug-free workplace requirements of the FAR. It clarifies what counts as a controlled substance, a conviction, a criminal drug statute, an employee, and an individual contractor. These definitions matter because they determine which workers and which drug-related offenses are covered by the rules.
Applies to: Contractors and offerors subject to the drug-free workplace subpart
Key terms: Controlled substance · Conviction · Criminal drug statute · Employee · Individual
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
As used in this subpart—
Controlled substance means a controlled substance in schedules I through V of section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812), and as further defined in regulation at 21 CFR 1308.11-1308.15.
Conviction means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo contendere) or imposition of sentence, or both, by any judicial body charged with the responsibility to determine violations of the Federal or State criminal drug statutes.
Criminal drug statute means a Federal or non-Federal criminal statute involving the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of any controlled substance.
Employee means an employee of a contractor directly engaged in the performance of work under a Government contract. Directly engaged is defined to include all direct cost employees and any other contract employee who has other than a minimal impact or involvement in contract performance.
Individual means an offeror/contractor that has no more than one employee including the offeror/contractor.
Sections that refer to it
- 2.101 Definitions.
← 26.502 Authority. · 26.504 Policy. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 26
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 6, 7, 10, 18, 26, 37, and 41 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Improving Consistency Between Procurement and Nonprocurement Procedures on Suspension and Debarment ↗ · final rule 2025-01-03 · effective 2025-01-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · proposed 2024-11-29 · comments due 2025-01-28
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Sustainable Procurement ↗ · final rule 2024-04-22 · effective 2024-05-22
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.