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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.1

FAR 52.105 Procedures for using alternates.

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 the FAR uses alternates to modify a provision or clause when a major variation is needed. It matters to contractors because when an alternate applies, the contract must cite both the basic provision or clause date and the alternate's date, and multiple alternates may be cited together. An alternate cannot be applied to a different provision or clause.

Applies to: FAR provisions and clauses that have alternates

What it requires

  • When an alternate is used, cite its date along with the date of the basic provision or clause.
  • When two or more alternates apply, cite each applicable alternate, whether incorporated by reference or in full text.
  • Do not apply an alternate to a specific provision or clause to any other provision or clause.

Key terms: alternate · provision · clause · incorporated by reference · full text

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

The text

(a) The FAR accommodates a major variation in a provision or clause by use of an alternate. The FAR prescribes alternates to a given provision or clause in the FAR subject text where the provision or clause is prescribed. The alternates to each provision or clause are titled “Alternate I,” “Alternate II,” “Alternate III,” etc.

(b) When an alternate is used, its date shall be cited along with the date of the basic provision or clause; e.g., 52.209-3 FIRST ARTICLE APPROVAL—CONTRACTOR TESTING (OCT 1983)—ALTERNATE I (DEC 1983).

(c) Under certain circumstances, a provision or clause may be used with two or more alternates. In these circumstances, each of the applicable alternates shall be cited, whether incorporated by reference or in full text; e.g., 52.209-3 FIRST ARTICLE APPROVAL—CONTRACTOR TESTING (OCT 1983)—ALTERNATE I (DEC 1983) AND ALTERNATE II (FEB 1984). However, under no circumstances may an alternate to a specific provision or clause be applied to any other provision or clause.

Sections it refers to

  • 52.209-3 First Article Approval—Contractor Testing.

Sections that refer to it

← 52.104 Procedures for modifying and completing provisions and clauses. · 52.106 [Reserved] →

Rule changes for FAR Part 52

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

FAR 52.105 Procedures for using alternates · SpendQuery