FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 46: Quality Assurance › Subpart 46.2
FAR 46.202-2 Government reliance on inspection by contractor.
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 says that for supplies or services at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, the Government generally relies on the contractor to do all inspection and testing needed to ensure they meet contract quality requirements before being tendered. However, the contracting officer can decide not to rely on contractor inspection if the Government needs to test in advance or judge the contractor's internal work processes.
Applies to: Contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold
What it requires
- Contractor must accomplish all inspection and testing needed to ensure supplies or services conform to contract quality requirements before tendering them to the Government, unless the contracting officer determines otherwise.
Key terms: simplified acquisition threshold · inspection · testing · contract quality requirements · tender
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) Except as specified in (b) below, the Government shall rely on the contractor to accomplish all inspection and testing needed to ensure that supplies or services acquired at or below the simplified acquisition threshold conform to contract quality requirements before they are tendered to the Government (see 46.301).
(b) The Government shall not rely on inspection by the contractor if the contracting officer determines that the Government has a need to test the supplies or services in advance of their tender for acceptance, or to pass judgment upon the adequacy of the contractor's internal work processes. In making the determination, the contracting officer shall consider—
(1) The nature of the supplies and services being purchased and their intended use;
(2) The potential losses in the event of defects;
(3) The likelihood of uncontested replacement or correction of defective work; and
(4) The cost of detailed Government inspection.
Sections it refers to
- 46.301 Contractor inspection requirements.
← 46.202-1 Contracts for commercial products and commercial services. · 46.202-3 Standard inspection requirements. →
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.