FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 34: Major System Acquisition
FAR 34.003 Responsibilities.
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 agency heads to create written procedures for implementing OMB Circular A-109, which governs major system acquisitions. It also defines what makes a system acquisition 'major' and requires agencies to identify key decision points and responsible officials. Contractors should understand that major acquisitions involve special management attention and agency-head decisions, which can affect how they work with the government.
Applies to: Agency heads and their designees responsible for major system acquisitions
What it requires
- Establish written procedures for implementing A-109
- Identify key decision points of each major system acquisition
- Identify the agency official(s) for making those decisions
Key terms: major system acquisition · A-109 · key decision points · agency head · written procedures
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) As required by A-109, the agency head or designee shall establish written procedures for its implementation.
(b) The agency procedures shall identify the key decision points of each major system acquisition and the agency official(s) for making those decisions.
(c) Systems acquisitions normally designated as major are those programs that, as determined by the agency head, (1) are directed at and critical to fulfilling an agency mission need, (2) entail allocating relatively large resources for the particular agency, and (3) warrant special management attention, including specific agency-head decisions. The agency procedures may establish additional criteria, as specified in A-109, for designating major programs system acquisitions.
← 34.002 Policy. · 34.004 Acquisition strategy. →
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.