FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 4: Administrative and Information Matters › Subpart 4.12

FAR 4.1201 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 requires offerors and quoters to complete electronic annual representations and certifications in SAM as part of their required registration. Registrants must review and update these representations and certifications at least annually so they stay current, accurate, and complete, and they remain effective for one year from submission or update. It matters to contractors because their SAM data is what the contracting officer relies on and references in the contract file.

Applies to: Offerors, quoters, registrants, and contractors registered in SAM

What it requires

  • Complete electronic annual representations and certifications in SAM as part of required registration
  • Review and update the representations and certifications submitted to SAM as necessary, but at least annually, to keep them current, accurate, and complete
  • A contractor that represented itself as a small business prior to award must update its representations and certifications in SAM in accordance with 52.219-28

Key terms: SAM · representations and certifications · registrants · small business · contract file

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

The text

(a) Offerors and quoters are required to complete electronic annual representations and certifications in SAM accessed via https://www.sam.gov as a part of required registration (see FAR 4.1102).

(b)(1) All registrants are required to review and update the representations and certifications submitted to SAM as necessary, but at least annually, to ensure they are kept current, accurate, and complete. The representations and certifications are effective until one year from date of submission or update to SAM.

(2) A contractor that represented itself as a small business prior to award of a contract must update the representations and certifications in SAM in accordance with 52.219-28. A contractor that represented itself as other than small business before contract award and qualifies as a small business may update its representations and certifications in SAM in accordance with 52.219-28.

(c) Data in SAM is archived and is electronically retrievable. Therefore, when a prospective contractor has completed representations and certifications electronically in SAM, the contracting officer must reference the date of SAM verification in the contract file to satisfy contract file documentation requirements of 4.803(a)(11). However, if an offeror identifies changes to SAM data pursuant to the FAR provisions at 52.204-8(d) or 52.212-3(b), the contracting officer must include a copy of the changes in the contract file.

(d) The contracting officer shall incorporate the representations and certifications by reference in the contract (see 52.204-19, or for acquisitions of commercial products or commercial services see 52.212-4(v)).

Sections it refers to

  • 4.1102 Policy.
  • 52.219-28 Postaward Small Business Program Rerepresentation.
  • 4.803 Contents of contract files.
  • 52.204-8 Annual Representations and Certifications.
  • 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
  • 52.204-19 Incorporation by Reference of Representations and Certifications.
  • 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

Sections that refer to it

  • 4.803 Contents of contract files.
  • 14.201-1 Uniform contract format.
  • 15.204-1 Uniform contract format.
  • 52.204-8 Annual Representations and Certifications.
  • 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
  • 252.204-7007 Alternate A, Annual Representations and Certifications.

← 4.1200 Scope. · 4.1202 Solicitation provision and contract clause. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 4

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

FAR 4.1201 Policy · SpendQuery