FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 4: Administrative and Information Matters › Subpart 4.10
FAR 4.1004 Establishing subline items.
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 explains how subline items can be used under a contract line item to help track performance, deliverables, payment, and funds accounting. It distinguishes deliverable subline items, which follow the characteristics in 4.1003, from informational subline items, which are for administrative identification and do not follow those characteristics. All subline items under one line item must be the same contract type as that line item.
Applies to: Contract line items and their subline items
What it requires
- A line item with subline items shall contain only information common to all subline items thereunder.
- All subline items under one line item shall be the same contract type as the line item.
- Position informational subline items within the line item description, not in the quantity or price fields.
Key terms: subline items · deliverable subline items · informational subline items · line item · contract type
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
Subline items may be used to facilitate tracking of performance, deliverables, payment, and contract funds accounting or for other management purposes. Subline items may be either deliverable or informational. The list of characteristics at 4.1003 applies to deliverable subline items, but it is not applicable to informational subline items. A line item with subline items shall contain only that information that is common to all subline items thereunder. All subline items under one line item shall be the same contract type as the line item.
(a) Deliverable subline items. Deliverable subline items may be used for several related items that require separate identification. For example, instead of establishing multiple separate line items, subline items may be established for—
(1) Items that are basically the same, except for minor variations such as—
(i) Size or color;
(ii) Accounting classification, but see also 4.1005-1(a)(4); or
(iii) Date of delivery, destination, or period or place of performance;
(2) Separately priced collateral functions that relate to the primary product, such as packaging and handling, or transportation; or
(3) Items to be separately identified at the time of shipment or performance.
(b) Informational subline items. (1) Informational subline items may be used by agencies for administrative purposes. This type of subline item identifies information that relates directly to the line item and is an integral part of it (e.g., parts of an assembly or parts of a kit).
(2) Position informational subline items within the line item description, not in the quantity or price fields.
Sections that refer to it
- 4.1005-1 Required data elements.
← 4.1003 Establishing line items. · 4.1005 Data elements for line items and subline items. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 4
- 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: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs ↗ · proposed 2025-06-12
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Controlled Unclassified Information ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial Risk ↗ · proposed 2025-01-13
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Rerepresentation of Size and Socioeconomic Status ↗ · final rule 2025-01-03 · effective 2025-01-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems From Covered Foreign Entities ↗ · final rule 2024-12-30
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · proposed 2024-11-29 · comments due 2025-01-28
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.