FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 46: Quality Assurance › Subpart 46.4
FAR 46.401 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 explains how the Government performs quality assurance on contracts, including when and where inspections happen. It matters because it tells contractors that the Government can inspect at various stages and places, and that the contract must state where the Government reserves the right to inspect. It also covers rules for changing inspection locations and how inspections are documented.
Applies to: Government contracts for supplies or services
What it requires
- Each contract must designate the place or places where the Government reserves the right to perform quality assurance.
- If the contract provides for Government quality assurance at source, the place or places of performance may not be changed without the contracting officer's authorization.
- If the contract provides for delivery and acceptance at destination and the Government inspects supplies elsewhere, the supplies must not ordinarily be reinspected at destination, but should be examined for quantity, damage in transit, and possible substitution or fraud.
- Government inspection must be documented on an inspection or receiving report form or commercial shipping document/packing list, under agency procedures.
Key terms: Government contract quality assurance · quality assurance surveillance plans · statement of work · source · destination
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) Government contract quality assurance shall be performed at such times (including any stage of manufacture or performance of services) and places (including subcontractors' plants) as may be necessary to determine that the supplies or services conform to contract requirements. Quality assurance surveillance plans should be prepared in conjunction with the preparation of the statement of work. The plans should specify—
(1) All work requiring surveillance; and
(2) The method of surveillance.
(b) Each contract shall designate the place or places where the Government reserves the right to perform quality assurance.
(c) If the contract provides for performance of Government quality assurance at source, the place or places of performance may not be changed without the authorization of the contracting officer.
(d) If a contract provides for delivery and acceptance at destination and the Government inspects the supplies at a place other than destination, the supplies shall not ordinarily be reinspected at destination, but should be examined for quantity, damage in transit, and possible substitution or fraud.
(e) Government inspection shall be performed by or under the direction or supervision of Government personnel.
(f) Government inspection shall be documented on an inspection or receiving report form or commercial shipping document/packing list, under agency procedures (see subpart 46.6).
(g) Agencies may prescribe the use of inspection approval or disapproval stamps to identify and control supplies and material that have been inspected for conformance with contract quality requirements.
Sections that refer to it
- 46.601 General.
← 46.317 Reporting nonconforming items. · 46.402 Government contract quality assurance at source. →
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.