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

FAR 3.104-2 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 implements the statutory restrictions on obtaining and disclosing certain information in federal acquisitions. It reminds agency officials that other laws and regulations also prohibit related conduct, such as bribery, gifts, conflicts of interest, post-employment restrictions, and misuse of nonpublic information. Contractors should be aware that these restrictions can affect their interactions with government employees and the handling of procurement information.

Applies to: Agency officials and government employees involved in acquisitions

Key terms: senior procurement executive · seeking employment · post-employment restrictions · nonpublic information · Privacy Act

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

The text

(a) This section implements 41 U.S.C. chapter 21, Restrictions on Obtaining and Disclosing Certain Information. Agency supplementation of 3.104, including specific definitions to identify individuals who occupy positions specified in 3.104-3(d)(1)(ii), and any clauses required by 3.104 must be approved by the senior procurement executive of the agency, unless a law establishes a higher level of approval for that agency.

(b) Agency officials are reminded that there are other statutes and regulations that deal with the same or related prohibited conduct, for example—

(1) The offer or acceptance of a bribe or gratuity is prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 201 and 10 U.S.C. 4651. The acceptance of a gift, under certain circumstances, is prohibited by 5 U.S.C. 7353 and 5 CFR part 2635;

(2) Contacts with an offeror during the conduct of an acquisition may constitute “seeking employment,”(see subpart F of 5 CFR part 2636 and 3.104-3(c)(2)). Government officers and employees (employees) are prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 208 and 5 CFR part 2635 from participating personally and substantially in any particular matter that would affect the financial interests of any person with whom the employee is seeking employment. An employee who engages in negotiations or is otherwise seeking employment with an offeror or who has an arrangement concerning future employment with an offeror must comply with the applicable disqualification requirements of 5 CFR 2635.604 and 2635.606. The statutory prohibition in 18 U.S.C. 208 also may require an employee's disqualification from participation in the acquisition even if the employee's duties may not be considered “participating personally and substantially,” as this term is defined in 3.104-1;

(3) Post-employment restrictions are covered by 18 U.S.C. 207 and 5 CFR parts 2637 and 2641, that prohibit certain activities by former Government employees, including representation of a contractor before the Government in relation to any contract or other particular matter involving specific parties on which the former employee participated personally and substantially while employed by the Government. Additional restrictions apply to certain senior Government employees and for particular matters under an employee's official responsibility;

(4) Parts 14 and 15 place restrictions on the release of information related to procurements and other contractor information that must be protected under 18 U.S.C. 1905;

(5) Release of information both before and after award (see 3.104-4) may be prohibited by the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. 1905), and other laws; and

(6) Using nonpublic information to further an employee's private interest or that of another and engaging in a financial transaction using nonpublic information are prohibited by 5 CFR 2635.703.

Sections it refers to

  • 3.104 Procurement integrity.
  • 3.104-3 Statutory and related prohibitions, restrictions, and requirements.
  • 3.104-1 Definitions.
  • 3.104-4 Disclosure, protection, and marking of contractor bid or proposal information and source selection information.

Sections that refer to it

  • 3.104-3 Statutory and related prohibitions, restrictions, and requirements.
  • 3.104-4 Disclosure, protection, and marking of contractor bid or proposal information and source selection information.
  • 3.104-5 Disqualification.
  • 252.203-7005 Representation Relating to Compensation of Former DoD Officials.

← 3.104-1 Definitions. · 3.104-3 Statutory and related prohibitions, restrictions, and requirements. →

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 3.104-2 General · SpendQuery