FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 33: Protests, Disputes, and Appeals › Subpart 33.2
FAR 33.204 Policy.
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 Government's policy of trying to resolve contractual disputes by mutual agreement at the contracting officer's level, and encourages agencies to use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures as much as practicable. It also notes that some factors may make ADR inappropriate, and describes agencies' authority to use ADR separately from or under the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act.
Applies to: Government agencies handling contractual issues in controversy
Key terms: ADR · contracting officer · claim · Administrative Dispute Resolution Act · arbitration
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
The Government's policy is to try to resolve all contractual issues in controversy by mutual agreement at the contracting officer's level. Reasonable efforts should be made to resolve controversies prior to the submission of a claim. Agencies are encouraged to use ADR procedures to the maximum extent practicable. Certain factors, however, may make the use of ADR inappropriate (see 5 U.S.C. 572(b)). Except for arbitration conducted pursuant to the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (ADRA), (5 U.S.C. 571, et seq.), agencies have authority which is separate from that provided by the ADRA to use ADR procedures to resolve issues in controversy. Agencies may also elect to proceed under the authority and requirements of the ADRA.
Sections that refer to it
- 8.406-6 Disputes.
← 33.203 Applicability. · 33.205 Relationship of the Disputes statute to Pub. L. 85-804. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 33
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 1, 2, 4, 33, 39, 40, and 53 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2025-05-12 · effective 2025-06-11
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Controlled Unclassified Information ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- 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: Improving Consistency Between Procurement and Nonprocurement Procedures on Suspension and Debarment ↗ · proposed 2024-01-09 · comments due 2024-03-11
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.