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

FAR 52.215-20 Requirements for Certified Cost or Pricing Data and Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data.

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 provision explains how offerors can request an exception from submitting certified cost or pricing data, and what they must submit if no exception is granted. It matters because it sets the rules for the pricing information a contractor must provide in its proposal, and it gives the Contracting Officer the right to examine records to verify exceptions and price reasonableness.

Applies to: Offerors submitting proposals under solicitations that include this provision.

What it requires

  • To request an exception, submit a written request with the information described in the provision.
  • For a commercial product or commercial service exception, submit information on prices at which the same or similar items have been sold in the commercial market.
  • If no exception is granted, prepare and submit certified cost or pricing data, data other than certified cost or pricing data, and supporting attachments in accordance with Table 15-2 of FAR 15.408.
  • As soon as practicable after agreement on price but before contract award, submit a Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data.

Key terms: certified cost or pricing data · data other than certified cost or pricing data · commercial product and commercial service exception · Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data · Table 15-2 of FAR 15.408

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

The text

As prescribed in 15.408(l), insert the following provision:

Requirements for Certified Cost or Pricing Data and Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data (NOV 2021)

(a) Exceptions from certified cost or pricing data. (1) In lieu of submitting certified cost or pricing data, offerors may submit a written request for exception by submitting the information described in the following subparagraphs. The Contracting Officer may require additional supporting information, but only to the extent necessary to determine whether an exception should be granted, and whether the price is fair and reasonable.

(i) Identification of the law or regulation establishing the price offered. If the price is controlled under law by periodic rulings, reviews, or similar actions of a governmental body, attach a copy of the controlling document, unless it was previously submitted to the contracting office.

(ii) Commercial product and commercial service exception. For a commercial product and commercial service exception, the offeror shall submit, at a minimum, information on prices at which the same item or similar items have previously been sold in the commercial market that is adequate for evaluating the reasonableness of the price for this acquisition. Such information may include—

(A) For catalog items, a copy of or identification of the catalog and its date, or the appropriate pages for the offered items, or a statement that the catalog is on file in the buying office to which the proposal is being submitted. Provide a copy or describe current discount policies and price lists (published or unpublished), e.g., wholesale, original equipment manufacturer, or reseller. Also explain the basis of each offered price and its relationship to the established catalog price, including how the proposed price relates to the price of recent sales in quantities similar to the proposed quantities;

(B) For market-priced items, the source and date or period of the market quotation or other basis for market price, the base amount, and applicable discounts. In addition, describe the nature of the market;

(C) For items included on an active Federal Supply Service Multiple Award Schedule contract, proof that an exception has been granted for the schedule item.

(2) The offeror grants the Contracting Officer or an authorized representative the right to examine, at any time before award, books, records, documents, or other directly pertinent records to verify any request for an exception under this provision, and the reasonableness of price. For items priced using catalog or market prices, or law or regulation, access does not extend to cost or profit information or other data relevant solely to the offeror's determination of the prices to be offered in the catalog or marketplace.

(b) Requirements for certified cost or pricing data. If the offeror is not granted an exception from the requirement to submit certified cost or pricing data, the following applies:

(1) The offeror shall prepare and submit certified cost or pricing data, data other than certified cost or pricing data, and supporting attachments in accordance with the instructions contained in Table 15-2 of FAR 15.408, which is incorporated by reference with the same force and effect as though it were inserted here in full text. The instructions in Table 15-2 are incorporated as a mandatory format to be used in this contract, unless the Contracting Officer and the Contractor agree to a different format and change this clause to use Alternate I.

(2) As soon as practicable after agreement on price, but before contract award (except for unpriced actions such as letter contracts), the offeror shall submit a Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data, as prescribed by FAR 15.406-2.

(End of provision)

Alternate I (OCT 2010). As prescribed in 15.408(l) (and see 15.403-5(b)(1)), substitute the following paragraph (b)(1) for paragraph (b)(1) of the basic provision:

(b)(1) The offeror shall submit certified cost or pricing data, data other than certified cost or pricing data, and supporting attachments in the following format: [Insert description of the data and format that are required, and include access to records necessary to permit an adequate evaluation of the proposed price in accordance with 15.408, Table 15-2, Note 2. The description may be inserted at the time of issuing the solicitation, or the Contracting Officer may specify that the offeror's format will be acceptable, or the description may be inserted as the result of negotiations.]

Alternate II (OCT 1997). As prescribed in 15.408(l), add the following paragraph (c) to the basic provision:

(c) When the proposal is submitted, also submit one copy each to: (1) the Administrative Contracting Officer, and (2) the Contract Auditor.

Alternate III (OCT 1997). As prescribed in 15.408(l), add the following paragraph (c) to the basic provision (if Alternate II is also used, redesignate the following paragraph as paragraph (d)).

(c) Submit the cost portion of the proposal via the following electronic media: [Insert media format, e.g., electronic spreadsheet format, electronic mail, etc.]

Alternate IV (OCT 2010). As prescribed in 15.408(l), replace the text of the basic provision with the following:

(a) Submission of certified cost or pricing data is not required.

(b) Provide data described below: [Insert description of the data and the format that are required, including the access to records necessary to permit an adequate evaluation of the proposed price in accordance with 15.403-3.]

Sections it refers to

  • 15.408 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.
  • 15.406-2 Certificate of current cost or pricing data.
  • 15.403-5 Instructions for submission of certified cost or pricing data and data other than certified cost or pricing data.
  • 15.403-3 Requiring data other than certified cost or pricing data.

Sections that refer to it

  • 15.408 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.
  • 215.408 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.
  • 252.215-7014 Exception from Certified Cost or Pricing Data Requirements for Foreign Military Sales Indirect Offsets.

← 52.215-19 Notification of Ownership Changes. · 52.215-21 Requirements for Certified Cost or Pricing Data and Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data—Modifications. →

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 52.215-20 Requirements for Certified Cost or Pricing Data and Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data · SpendQuery