FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 5: Publicizing Contract Actions › Subpart 5.4

FAR 5.405 Exchange of acquisition information.

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 says that when multiple agencies or contracting activities buy the same or similar items, they should exchange and coordinate acquisition information, especially cost and pricing data. It also requires a contracting activity to request such information from other agencies for substantial acquisitions of major items, and requires agencies receiving those requests to provide the information. Contractors may be asked to provide information about their previous Government contracts and subcontracts for the same or similar items.

Applies to: Agencies and contracting activities acquiring the same or similar items, and contractors or subcontractors with prior Government contracts for similar items

What it requires

  • Each agency or contracting activity receiving a request for information shall furnish the information requested.
  • The contracting officer shall request the contractor to furnish information about the contractor's or subcontractor's previous Government contracts and subcontracts for the same or similar end items and major subcontractor components.

Key terms: exchange and coordination of pertinent information · cost and pricing data · acquisition planning · presolicitation · pre-award survey

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

The text

(a) When the same item or class of items is being acquired by more than one agency, or by more than one contracting activity within an agency, the exchange and coordination of pertinent information, particularly cost and pricing data, between these agencies or contracting activities is necessary to promote uniformity of treatment of major issues and the resolution of particularly difficult or controversial issues. The exchange and coordination of information is particularly beneficial during the period of acquisition planning, presolicitation, evaluation, and pre-award survey.

(b) When substantial acquisitions of major items are involved or when the contracting activity deems it desirable, the contracting activity shall request appropriate information (on both the end item and on major subcontracted components) from other agencies or contracting activities responsible for acquiring similar items. Each agency or contracting activity receiving such a request shall furnish the information requested. The contracting officer, early in a negotiation of a contract, or in connection with the review of a subcontract, shall request the contractor to furnish information as to the contractor's or subcontractor's previous Government contracts and subcontracts for the same or similar end items and major subcontractor components.

← 5.404-2 Announcements of long-range acquisition estimates. · 5.406 Public disclosure of justification documents for certain contract actions. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 5

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

FAR 5.405 Exchange of acquisition information · SpendQuery