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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 47: Transportation › Subpart 47.1

FAR 47.104-1 Government rate tender procedures.

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 Government rate tenders work for certain shipments. It says that rates published under 49 U.S.C. 10721 and 13712 apply to Government shipments moving on endorsed commercial bills of lading or Government bills of lading. It also allows agencies to negotiate additional or revised rates in certain situations, but only through authorized personnel.

Applies to: Government shipments moving on commercial bills of lading endorsed for Government reimbursement or on Government bills of lading

What it requires

  • Ensure commercial bills of lading are endorsed to show total transportation charges are assignable to and will be reimbursed by the Government
  • Only use personnel authorized in agency procedures to negotiate additional or revised rates

Key terms: Government rate tender · commercial bills of lading · Government bills of lading · 49 U.S.C. 10721 · 49 U.S.C. 13712

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

The text

(a) 49 U.S.C. 10721 and 13712 rates are published in Government rate tenders and apply to shipments moving for the account of the Government on—

(1) Commercial bills of lading endorsed to show that total transportation charges are assignable to, and will be reimbursed by, the Government (see the clause at 52.247-1, Commercial Bill of Lading Notations); and

(2) Government bills of lading.

(b) Agencies may negotiate with carriers for additional or revised 49 U.S.C. 10721 and 13712 rates in appropriate situations. Only personnel authorized in agency procedures may carry out these negotiations. The following are examples of situations in which negotiations for additional or revised 49 U.S.C. 10721 and 13712 rates may be appropriate:

(1) Volume movements are expected.

(2) Shipments will be made on a recurring basis between designated places, and substantial savings in transportation costs appear possible even though a volume movement is not involved.

(3) Transit arrangements are feasible and advantageous to the Government.

Sections it refers to

  • 52.247-1 Commercial Bill of Lading Notations.

Sections that refer to it

← 47.104 Government rate tenders under sections 10721 and 13712 of the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. 10721 and 13712). · 47.104-2 Fixed-price contracts. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 47

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 47.104-1 Government rate tender procedures · SpendQuery