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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 42: Contract Administration and Audit Services › Subpart 42.11

FAR 42.1104 Surveillance requirements.

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 the contract administration office decides how much production surveillance to conduct on a contract. It bases that decision on the criticality of the supplies or services and several factors about the contract and the contractor. It also says contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold should not normally require production surveillance.

Applies to: Contract administration offices and contractors with contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold

What it requires

  • Contract administration offices shall make maximum use of reliable contractor production control or data management systems in planning and conducting surveillance.
  • Contract administration office personnel shall avoid any action inconsistent with contract requirements or that may result in claims of waivers, changes, or other contract modifications.

Key terms: production surveillance · contract administration office · simplified acquisition threshold · contracting officer · production control or data management systems

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

The text

(a) The contract administration office determines the extent of production surveillance on the basis of (1) the criticality (degree of importance to the Government) assigned by the contracting officer (see 42.1105) to the supplies or services and (2) consideration of the following factors:

(i) Contract requirements for reporting production progress and performance.

(ii) The contract performance schedule.

(iii) The contractor's production plan.

(iv) The contractor's history of contract performance.

(v) The contractor's experience with the contract supplies or services.

(vi) The contractor's financial capability.

(vii) Any supplementary written instructions from the contracting office.

(b) Contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold should not normally require production surveillance.

(c) In planning and conducting surveillance, contract administration offices shall make maximum use of any reliable contractor production control or data management systems.

(d) In performing surveillance, contract administration office personnel shall avoid any action that may (1) be inconsistent with any contract requirement or (2) result in claims of waivers, of changes, or of other contract modifications.

Sections it refers to

  • 42.1105 Assignment of criticality designator.

← 42.1103 Policy. · 42.1105 Assignment of criticality designator. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 42

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

FAR 42.1104 Surveillance requirements · SpendQuery