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48 CFR · Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense supplement

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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.

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58 sections with “agency head approval”: the first 40

  • FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
    …C. 3204(a)(1) or 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1). (2) When the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source, or, for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible source…
  • FAR 6.304 Approval of the justification.
    …y 6.303-2(b)(12) will serve as approval unless a higher approving level is established in agency procedures. (2) For a proposed contract over $900,000 but not exceeding $20 million, by the advocate for competition for the procuring activit…
  • FAR 4.2104 Waivers.
    (a) Executive agencies. The head of an executive agency may, on a one-time basis, waive the prohibition at 4.2102(a) with respect to a Government entity (e.g., requirements office, contracting office) that requests such a waiver. (1) Waive…
  • FAR 6.302-2 Unusual and compelling urgency.
    (a) Authority. (1) Citations: 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(2) or 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2). (2) When the agency's need for the supplies or services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured unless the agen…
  • FAR 7.503 Policy.
    …ontracts shall not be used for the performance of inherently governmental functions. (b) Agency decisions which determine whether a function is or is not an inherently governmental function may be reviewed and modified by appropriate Offic…
  • FAR 8.405-6 Limiting sources.
    …cation— (1) At the GPE https://www.sam.gov (2) On the Web site of the ordering activity agency, which may provide access to the justification by linking to the GPE; and (3) For a minimum of 30 days. (ii) In the case of an order or BPA p…
  • FAR 16.505 Ordering.
    … products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency's needs. (ii) Requirements for use of items peculiar to one manufacturer shall be justified and approved using the format(s) and requirements …
  • FAR 17.502-2 The Economy Act.
    … authorizes agencies to enter into agreements to obtain supplies or services from another agency. The FAR applies when one agency uses another agency's contract to obtain supplies or services. If the interagency business transaction does no…
  • FAR 22.807 Exemptions.
    … 11246 may be excluded from a contract subject to E.O. 11246: (1) National security. The agency head may determine that a contract is essential to the national security and that the award of the contract without complying with one or more …
  • FAR 27.302 Policy.
    …f a foreign government (see 27.303(e)(1)(i)); (ii) In exceptional circumstances, when an agency determines that restriction or elimination of the right to retain title in any subject invention will better promote the policy and objectives …
  • FAR 32.402 General.
    ….102-3(b)(4). (b) Advance payments may be provided on any type of contract; however, the agency shall authorize advance payments sparingly. Except for the contracts described in 32.403(a) and (b), advance payment is the least preferred met…
  • FAR 35.014 Government property and title.
    …t property apply to all R&D contracts. (b) In implementing 31 U.S.C. 6306, and unless an agency head provides otherwise, the policies in subparagraphs (1) through (4) following, regarding title to equipment (and other tangible personal pro…
  • FAR 41.201 Policy.
    …ontract.) (c) Specific operating and management details, such as procedures for internal agency contract assistance and review, delegations of authority, and approval thresholds, may be prescribed by an individual agency subject to complia…
  • DFARS 206.304 Approval of the justification.
    …delegate this authority to— (A) An Assistant Secretary of Defense; or (B) For a defense agency, an officer or employee serving in, assigned, or detailed to that agency who— (1) If a member of the armed forces, is serving in a rank above …
  • DFARS 252.251-7001 Use of Interagency Fleet Management System (IFMS) vehicles and related services.
    As prescribed in 251.205, use the following clause: Use of Interagency Fleet Management System (IFMS) Vehicles and Related Services (DEC 1991) (a) The Contractor, if authorized use of IFMS vehicles, shall submit requests for five or fewer…
  • FAR 51.102 Authorization to use Government supply sources.
    …ll request, in writing, as applicable— (1) A FEDSTRIP activity address code, through the agency's central contact point for matters involving activity address codes, from the General Services Administration (GSA), FXS, Washington, DC 20406…
  • FAR 52.222-16 Approval of Wage Rates.
    …e contract. Any amount paid by the Contractor to any laborer or mechanic in excess of the agency approved wage rate shall be at the expense of the Contractor and shall not be reimbursed by the Government. If the Government refuses to author…
  • DFARS 237.104 Personal services contracts.
    …st also be authorized by a determination and findings (D&F) in accordance with department/agency regulations. (A) Generally, the D&F should authorize one contract at a time; however, an authorizing official may issue a blanket D&F for clas…
  • FAR 5.502 Authority.
    …pprove the publication of paid advertisements in newspapers is vested in the head of each agency (44 U.S.C. 3702). This approval authority may be delegated (5 U.S.C. 302 (b)). Contracting officers shall obtain written authorization in accor…
  • FAR 8.802 Policy.
    … U.S.C. 504); (2) The printing is done in field printing plants operated by an executive agency (44 U.S.C. 501(2)); (3) The printing is acquired by an executive agency from allotments for contract field printing (44 U.S.C. 501(2)); or (4…
  • FAR 8.1102 Presolicitation requirements.
    …ational needs, and meet prescribed fuel economy standards; (2) The head of the requiring agency, or a designee, has certified that the requested passenger automobiles (sedans and station wagons) larger than Type IA, IB, or II (small, subco…
  • FAR 9.503 Waiver.
    The agency head or a designee may waive any general rule or procedure of this subpart by determining that its application in a particular situation would not be in the Government's interest. Any request for waiver must be in writing, shall …
  • FAR 25.702-4 Waiver.
    …ppropriate congressional committees that it is in the national interest to do so. (b) An agency seeking waiver of the requirement shall submit the request to the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), allowing su…
  • FAR 25.703-4 Waiver.
    (a) An agency or contractor seeking a waiver of the requirements of 25.703-2 or 25.703-3, consistent with section 6(b)(5) of the Iran Sanctions Act or 22 U.S.C. 8551(b), respectively, and the Presidential Memorandum of September 23, 2010 (7…
  • FAR 35.017-2 Establishing or changing an FFRDC.
    … the sponsor shall ensure the following: (a) Existing alternative sources for satisfying agency requirements cannot effectively meet the special research or development needs. (b) The notices required for publication (see 5.205(b)) are pl…
  • FAR 41.204 GSA areawide contracts.
    …raph (c)(1) of this section apply. (c) Procedures for obtaining service. (1) Any Federal agency having a requirement for utility services within an area covered by an areawide contract shall acquire services under that areawide contract un…
  • FAR 52.216-7 Allowable Cost and Payment.
    …ayments for contract financing on the __ [Contracting Officer insert day as prescribed by agency head; if not prescribed, insert “30th”] day after the designated billing office receives a proper payment request. In the event that the Gover…
  • FAR 52.225-19 Contractor Personnel in a Designated Operational Area or Supporting a Diplomatic or Consular Mission Outside the United States.
    …ssion means performing outside the United States under a contract administered by Federal agency personnel who are subject to the direction of a chief of mission. (b) General. (1) This clause applies when Contractor personnel are required …
  • FAR 52.232-16 Progress Payments.
    …3, Contractor's Request for Progress Payment, or the electronic equivalent as required by agency regulations, in accordance with the form instructions and the contract terms; and (ii) Include any additional supporting documentation request…
  • DFARS 206.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
    (a) Authority. (2)(i) Section 8059 of Pub. L. 101-511 and similar sections in subsequent defense appropriations acts prohibit departments and agencies from entering into contracts for studies, analyses, or consulting services (see FAR subpa…
  • DFARS 222.101-4 Removal of items from contractors' facilities affected by work stoppages.
    … the national office of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or other mediation agency regarding the effect movement of the items would have on labor negotiations. Normally removals will not be made if they will adversely affect l…
  • DFARS 236.270 Expediting construction contracts.
    (a) 10 U.S.C. 2858 requires agency head approval to expedite the completion date of a contract funded by a Military Construction Appropriations Act, if additional costs are involved. This approval authority may not be redelegated. The appro…
  • FAR 1.403 Individual deviations.
    …ct only one contract action, and, unless 1.405(e) is applicable, may be authorized by the agency head. The contracting officer must document the justification and agency approval in the contract file.
  • FAR 17.106-3 Special procedures applicable to DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard.
    … carried out in a manner to preclude or curtail the existing ability of the Department or agency to provide for termination of a prime contract, the performance of which is deficient with respect to cost, quality, or schedule. (c) Cancella…
  • FAR 26.501 Applicability.
    … its outlying areas; (d) By law enforcement agencies, if the head of the law enforcement agency or designee involved determines that application of this subpart would be inappropriate in connection with the law enforcement agency's underco…
  • FAR 27.201-2 Contract clauses.
    …m indemnity of identified patents, as distinguished from items, is the prerogative of the agency head. Upon written approval of the agency head, the contracting officer may insert the clause at 52.227-5, Waiver of Indemnity, in solicitation…
  • FAR 31.101 Objectives.
    …formity, individual deviations concerning cost principles require advance approval of the agency head or designee. Class deviations for the civilian agencies require advance approval of the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council. Class deviati…
  • FAR 32.114 Unusual contract financing.
    …ng. Unusual contract financing shall be authorized only after approval by the head of the agency or as provided for in agency regulations.
  • FAR 32.202-1 Policy.
    …ract financing. Any contract financing arrangement not in accord with the requirements of agency regulations or this part is unusual contract financing and requires advance approval in accordance with agency procedures. If not otherwise spe…
  • FAR 36.303-1 Phase One.
    …ntracting official is the advocate for competition for the procuring activity, unless the agency designates a different position in agency procedures. The approval shall be documented in the contract file. (b) After evaluating phase-one pr…

FAR (chapter 1)

DFARS (chapter 2, Defense)

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Rule changes in progress: FAR, DFARS. Terms: glossary.