SpendQueryBeta

FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 47: Transportation › Subpart 47.3

FAR 47.306-2 Lowest overall transportation costs.

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 contracting officers how to evaluate offers when transportation costs matter: they must use the lowest available freight rates and related charges that are in effect by the expected initial shipment date and on file at bid opening. Rates that appear only after bid opening generally cannot be used in the evaluation, unless no applicable rates existed at that time. This matters because it fixes which transportation costs count when offers are compared.

Applies to: Contracting officers and transportation officers evaluating offers involving transportation costs

What it requires

  • The transportation officer shall give the contracting officer the lowest available freight rates and related accessorial and incidental charges.
  • The contracting officer shall use those lowest available rates and charges in the evaluation.
  • Use only rates and charges in effect on, or effective before, the expected date of the initial shipment.
  • Use only rates and charges on file or published on the date of bid opening.

Key terms: lowest available freight rates · accessorial and incidental charges · expected date of the initial shipment · bid opening · due date of offers

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

The text

(a) For the evaluation of offers, the transportation officer shall give to the contracting officer, and the contracting officer shall use, the lowest available freight rates and related accessorial and incidental charges that (1) are in effect on, or become effective before, the expected date of the initial shipment and (2) are on file or published on the date of the bid opening.

(b) If rates or related charges become available after the bid opening or the due date of offers, they shall not be used in the evaluation unless they cover transportation for which no applicable rates or accessorial or incidental costs were in existence at the time of bid opening or due date of the offers.

← 47.306-1 Transportation cost determinations. · 47.306-3 Adequacy of loading and unloading facilities. →

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 47.306-2 Lowest overall transportation costs · SpendQuery