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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 42: Contract Administration and Audit Services › Subpart 42.5

FAR 42.501 General.

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 describes postaward orientations, which help the Government and contractor reach a clear, mutual understanding of contract requirements and spot potential problems early. It encourages these orientations for small business concerns and similar categories, but the contracting officer decides whether one is needed. An orientation does not replace the contractor's responsibility to fully understand the work before submitting an offer, and it cannot change the final agreement reached in negotiations.

Applies to: Government and contractor personnel involved in contracts, especially small business concerns

Key terms: postaward orientation · contracting officer · small business concerns · small disadvantaged business concerns · HUBZone small business concerns

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

The text

(a) A postaward orientation aids both Government and contractor personnel to (l) achieve a clear and mutual understanding of all contract requirements and (2) identify and resolve potential problems. However, it is not a substitute for the contractor's fully understanding the work requirements at the time offers are submitted, nor is it to be used to alter the final agreement arrived at in any negotiations leading to contract award.

(b) Postaward orientation is encouraged to assist (see part 19)—

(1) Small business concerns;

(2) Small disadvantaged business concerns;

(3) Veteran-owned small business concerns;

(4) Service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns;

(5) HUBZone small business concerns; and

(6) Women-owned small business concerns (including economically disadvantaged women-owned small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns eligible under the Women-Owned Small Business Program).

(c) While cognizant Government or contractor personnel may request the contracting officer to arrange for orientation, it is up to the contracting officer to decide whether a postaward orientation in any form is necessary.

(d) Maximum benefits will be realized when orientation is conducted promptly after award.

← 42.500 Scope of subpart. · 42.502 Selecting contracts for postaward orientation. →

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 42.501 General · SpendQuery