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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 3: Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of Interest › Subpart 3.1

FAR 3.101-1 General.

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 states the general standard of conduct for Government business: it must be conducted above reproach, with complete impartiality and no preferential treatment, except as authorized by statute or regulation. It matters to contractors because it sets the expectation that Government-contractor relationships must avoid any conflict of interest or even the appearance of one.

Applies to: Government business and Government-contractor relationships

What it requires

  • Conduct Government business above reproach
  • Act with complete impartiality and preferential treatment for none, except as authorized by statute or regulation
  • Avoid strictly any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest in Government-contractor relationships

Key terms: conflict of interest · impartiality · preferential treatment · public trust · public disclosure

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

The text

Government business shall be conducted in a manner above reproach and, except as authorized by statute or regulation, with complete impartiality and with preferential treatment for none. Transactions relating to the expenditure of public funds require the highest degree of public trust and an impeccable standard of conduct. The general rule is to avoid strictly any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest in Government-contractor relationships. While many Federal laws and regulations place restrictions on the actions of Government personnel, their official conduct must, in addition, be such that they would have no reluctance to make a full public disclosure of their actions.

← 3.101 Standards of conduct. · 3.101-2 Solicitation and acceptance of gratuities by Government personnel. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 3

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

FAR 3.101-1 General · SpendQuery