48 CFR · Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense supplement

FAR and DFARS navigator

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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3 sections with “critical or major nonconformance”

  • FAR 46.407 Nonconforming supplies or services.
    …ontracting officer ordinarily must reject supplies or services when the nonconformance is critical or major or the supplies or services are otherwise incomplete. However, there may be circumstances (e.g., reasons of economy or urgency) when…
  • FAR 52.246-26 Reporting Nonconforming Items.
    …fication of grade, serial number, lot number, date code, or performance characteristics. Critical item means an item, the failure of which is likely to result in hazardous or unsafe conditions for individuals using, maintaining, or dependi…
  • FAR 46.101 Definitions.
    …fication of grade, serial number, lot number, date code, or performance characteristics. Critical item means an item, the failure of which is likely to result in hazardous or unsafe conditions for individuals using, maintaining, or dependi…

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.