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FAR Clauses Guide

Understand 50+ essential Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses for winning government contracts

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FAR Clauses Covered

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Why Understand FAR Clauses?

Every federal contract includes a set of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses that establish your legal obligations, compliance requirements, and operational constraints. Missing or misinterpreting even one clause can result in:

  • Proposal rejection on compliance grounds (no review of technical merit)
  • Post-award defaults due to unmet compliance obligations
  • Unbudgeted costs that turn profitable contracts into losses
  • Debarment or suspension from future federal work

Browse by Category

Core Compliance

Certifications, representations, and fundamental contract requirements

Commercial Items

Streamlined procedures for products and services

Small Business

Size standards, socioeconomic status, and set-asides

Compliance & Security

Cybersecurity, privacy, environmental, and export controls

All FAR Clauses

FAR 52.202-1

Definitions

Establishes critical definitions for terms used throughout the FAR and the contract itself.

FAR 52.204-21

Basic Safeguards for Covered Contractor Information Systems

Requires contractors to implement NIST SP 800-171 security controls for unclassified controlled technical information.

FAR 52.209-5

Certification Regarding Responsibility Matters

Requires certification that the contractor is a responsible source for federal contracting.

FAR 52.212-1

Instructions to Offerors — Commercial Products and Commercial Services

Provides streamlined proposal submission instructions for commercial item acquisitions.

FAR 52.213-1

Simplified Acquisition Procedures

Describes evaluation and award procedures for acquisitions under the simplified acquisition threshold.

FAR 52.214-14

Place of Performance

Requires contractor to identify where contract performance will occur.

FAR 52.215-1

Instructions to Offerors — Competitive Negotiation

Provides instructions for submitting proposals in competitive negotiation procurements (RFPs).

FAR 52.215-2

Evaluation of Proposals

Describes how the government will evaluate and compare proposals.

FAR 52.215-18

Reversion of Tooling and Special Tooling

Addresses ownership and reversion of special tooling used in contract performance.

FAR 52.219-1

Small Business Program Representations

Requires certification of small business status for participation in small business set-asides.

FAR 52.222-1

Notice to Offerors of Labor Laws

Informs contractors of applicable labor and employment laws they must comply with.

FAR 52.223-5

Pollution Prevention and Right-to-Know Information

Requires contractor to provide information about hazardous substances used in contract performance.

FAR 52.224-1

Privacy Act Notification

Notifies contractors that personal information collected in performance may be subject to Privacy Act.

FAR 52.225-2

Buy American Certificate

Certifies that supplies or services are manufactured or provided in the United States.

FAR 52.227-1

Authorization and Consent

Addresses intellectual property rights, licenses, and use restrictions for contractor materials.

FAR 52.227-14

Rights in Data—General

Allocates ownership and usage rights for data and works created during contract performance.

FAR 52.232-18

Availability of Funds

Informs contractor that contract performance is contingent on funds availability.

FAR 52.233-1

Disputes

Establishes procedures for resolving contract disputes between contractor and government.

FAR 52.243-1

Changes—Fixed-Price

Allows government to unilaterally order changes to contract scope (for fixed-price contracts).

FAR 52.249-1

Termination for Convenience of the Government

Allows government to terminate contract for convenience without cause at any time.

FAR 52.249-2

Termination for Default

Allows government to terminate your contract if you breach or fail to perform.

FAR 52.203-2

Certificate of Independent Price Determination

Certifies that prices submitted were independently determined without collusion.

FAR 52.215-19

Requirement for Use of Government-Unique Data

Establishes rules for using technical data, software, or information provided by government.

FAR 52.212-4

Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services

Provides contract terms for commercial item purchases (less rigid than standard FAR clauses).

FAR 52.216-1

Type of Contract

Identifies the contract type (fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, time-and-materials, etc.)

FAR 52.209-2

Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations

Prohibits contracts with domestic corporations that reincorporated in a foreign country.

FAR 52.222-3

Convict Labor

Prohibits employment of convicts for contract performance except under limited circumstances.

FAR 52.232-1

Payments

Establishes payment terms, conditions, and procedures for federal contracts.

FAR 52.232-25

Prompt Payment

Requires government to pay contractor on time and provides interest penalties if payment is late.

FAR 52.219-6

Notice of Totality of Purchases

Notifies small business contractors that government may count total purchases when evaluating small business status.

FAR 52.203-11

Certification and Disclosure Regarding Payments to Influence Federal Transactions

Certifies that contractor has not paid anyone to lobby government on this specific contract.

FAR 52.204-7

Information and Invoicing

Defines how contractor must prepare invoices, provide payment documentation, and communicate contract information to government.

FAR 52.204-9

Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Employees

Requires contractor employees with physical or logical access to federal facilities to meet personal identity verification standards.

FAR 52.205-2

Sanctions and Restrictions Regarding Certain Contracts

Certifies contractor is not debarred and complies with sanctions and trade restrictions.

FAR 52.206-1

Administration of Federal Requirements

Describes how contractor must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

FAR 52.208-1

Fulfillment of Orders

Defines contractor obligations for handling orders under indefinite-delivery or open-ended contracts.

FAR 52.210-1

Representations and Other Statements of Offerors—Commercial Item Exceptions

Streamlines representations and certifications for commercial item procurements.

FAR 52.214-10

Sealed Bidding—Procedures for Sealed Bidding

Outlines sealed bidding procedures, bid opening, and evaluation process for competitive awards.

FAR 52.217-2

Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment and Vegetation

Requires contractor to protect government property and facilities during contract performance.

FAR 52.217-9

Option to Extend the Term of the Contract

Gives government the right to extend contract for additional periods on same terms and conditions.

FAR 52.219-8

Limitation on Subcontracting

Requires small business contractors to perform percentage of work themselves (not fully subcontract).

FAR 52.220-2

Apprentices

Requires contractor to employ apprentices on certain contracts in apprenticeable occupations.

FAR 52.221-1

Service Contract Act—Labor Standards

Requires contractor to pay employees prevailing wages based on Department of Labor wage determinations.

FAR 52.226-1

Domestic Iron and Steel Products

Requires use of domestic iron and steel in contracts, with limited exceptions.

FAR 52.228-1

Bonds—Performance and Payment

Requires contractor to post performance and payment bonds guaranteeing contract completion and subcontractor/supplier payment.

FAR 52.232-8

Provision of Funds

Contractor can request advance payment or partial payment before delivering products/services (rare but possible).

FAR 52.233-3

Protest Procedures

Describes government protest procedures when contractor disputes award decision.

FAR 52.239-1

Telecommunications Services—Minimum Needs Statement

Contractor must define telecommunications service requirements and right to terminate for convenience.

FAR 52.247-64

Transportation of Hazardous Materials

Contractor must comply with hazmat transportation regulations per DOT and environmental laws.

FAR 52.209-9

Updates of Publicly Available Information

Contractor must update organizational and ownership information on SAM.gov to keep government records current.

FAR 52.245-2

Government Property—Contractor Responsibility

Contractor responsible for safekeeping government property supplied or acquired under contract.

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