SpendQueryBeta

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

FAR 42.502 Selecting contracts for postaward orientation.

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 tells the contracting officer what factors to consider when deciding whether a postaward orientation is needed and what form it should take. It matters to contractors because these factors, such as contract type, value, complexity, and the contractor's small business status, can influence whether and how the government meets with the contractor after award.

Applies to: Contracting officers deciding on postaward orientation

Key terms: postaward orientation · contracting officer · preaward survey · small business · subcontracting

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

The text

When deciding whether postaward orientation is necessary and, if so, what form it shall take, the contracting officer shall consider, as a minimum, the—

(a) Nature and extent of the preaward survey and any other prior discussions with the contractor;

(b) Type, value, and complexity of the contract;

(c) Complexity and acquisition history of the product or service;

(d) Requirements for spare parts and related equipment;

(e) Urgency of the delivery schedule and relationship of the product or service to critical programs;

(f) Length of the planned production cycle;

(g) Extent of subcontracting;

(h) Contractor's performance history and experience with the product or service;

(i) Contractor's status, if any, as a small business, small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone, or service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern;

(j) Contractor's performance history with small, small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business subcontracting programs;

(k) Safety precautions required for hazardous materials or operations; and

(l) Complex financing arrangements, such as progress payments, advance payments, or guaranteed loans.

← 42.501 General. · 42.503 Postaward conferences. →

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 42.502 Selecting contracts for postaward orientation · SpendQuery