FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 46: Quality Assurance › Subpart 46.4
FAR 46.402 Government contract quality assurance at source.
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 agencies when they must perform contract quality assurance, including inspection, at the contractor's location (source) rather than elsewhere. It matters because if your contract falls under one of these conditions, government inspectors may come to your facility to inspect before shipment.
Applies to: Government agencies performing contract quality assurance
Key terms: contract quality assurance · inspection · at source · destructive testing · Government inspection
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
Agencies shall perform contract quality assurance, including inspection, at source if—
(a) Performance at any other place would require uneconomical disassembly or destructive testing;
(b) Considerable loss would result from the manufacture and shipment of unacceptable supplies, or from the delay in making necessary corrections;
(c) Special required instruments, gauges, or facilities are available only at source;
(d) Performance at any other place would destroy or require the replacement of costly special packing and packaging;
(e) Government inspection during contract performance is essential; or
(f) It is determined for other reasons to be in the Government's interest.
← 46.401 General. · 46.403 Government contract quality assurance at destination. →
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.