FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 46: Quality Assurance › Subpart 46.5
FAR 46.504 Certificate of conformance.
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 when a contracting officer may accept supplies or services based on a contractor's certificate of conformance instead of source inspection. It matters because it can reduce inspection steps, but only if the stated conditions are met and the Government's inspection rights are not harmed.
Applies to: Contracts where the contracting officer is considering acceptance by certificate of conformance instead of source inspection
Key terms: certificate of conformance · source inspection · acceptance at source · acceptance at destination · contracting officer
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
A certificate of conformance (see 46.315) may be used in certain instances instead of source inspection (whether the contract calls for acceptance at source or destination) at the discretion of the contracting officer if the following conditions apply:
(a) Acceptance on the basis of a contractor's certificate of conformance is in the Government's interest.
(b)(1) Small losses would be incurred in the event of a defect; or
(2) Because of the contractor's reputation or past performance, it is likely that the supplies or services furnished will be acceptable and any defective work would be replaced, corrected, or repaired without contest. In no case shall the Government's right to inspect supplies under the inspection provisions of the contract be prejudiced.
Sections it refers to
- 46.315 Certificate of conformance.
← 46.503 Place of acceptance. · 46.505 Transfer of title and risk of loss. →
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.