FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.2

FAR 52.211-5 Material Requirements.

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 clause defines key terms for material requirements and sets the default rule that contractors must provide new, reconditioned, or remanufactured supplies unless the contract specifies virgin material. It also requires contractors to get Contracting Officer approval before using used, reconditioned, remanufactured, or unused former Government surplus property.

Applies to: Contractors supplying materials under a contract that includes this clause.

What it requires

  • Provide supplies that are new, reconditioned, or remanufactured, unless the contract requires virgin material.
  • Include a complete description of material, quantity, Government agency, and acquisition date in a proposal to provide unused former Government surplus property.
  • Submit a detailed description of used, reconditioned, or remanufactured supplies to the Contracting Officer for approval.
  • Obtain Contracting Officer authorization before using used, reconditioned, remanufactured, or unused former Government surplus property.

Key terms: New · Reconditioned · Recovered material · Remanufactured · Virgin material

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

The text

As prescribed in 11.302, insert the following clause:

Material Requirements (AUG 2000)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—

New means composed of previously unused components, whether manufactured from virgin material, recovered material in the form of raw material, or materials and by-products generated from, and reused within, an original manufacturing process; provided that the supplies meet contract requirements, including but not limited to, performance, reliability, and life expectancy.

Reconditioned means restored to the original normal operating condition by readjustments and material replacement.

Recovered material means waste materials and by-products recovered or diverted from solid waste, but the term does not include those materials and by-products generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing process.

Remanufactured means factory rebuilt to original specifications.

Virgin material means—

(1) Previously unused raw material, including previously unused copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, iron, other metal or metal ore; or

(2) Any undeveloped resource that is, or with new technology will become, a source of raw materials.

(b) Unless this contract otherwise requires virgin material or supplies composed of or manufactured from virgin material, the Contractor shall provide supplies that are new, reconditioned, or remanufactured, as defined in this clause.

(c) A proposal to provide unused former Government surplus property shall include a complete description of the material, the quantity, the name of the Government agency from which acquired, and the date of acquisition.

(d) A proposal to provide used, reconditioned, or remanufactured supplies shall include a detailed description of such supplies and shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer for approval.

(e) Used, reconditioned, or remanufactured supplies, or unused former Government surplus property, may be used in contract performance if the Contractor has proposed the use of such supplies, and the Contracting Officer has authorized their use.

(End of clause)

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 52.211-4 Availability for Examination of Specifications Not Listed in the GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions. · 52.211-6 Brand name or equal. →

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 52.211-5 Material Requirements · SpendQuery