1.105-2 Arrangement of regulations
Source: FAR 1.105-2 on acquisition.gov
Understanding the FAR's structure and citation rules is essential for accurate compliance, communication, and documentation in government contracting.
Overview
FAR 1.105-2 explains how the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is organized and how its provisions are numbered and cited. This section provides a detailed breakdown of the FAR's structure, including subchapters, parts, subparts, sections, and subsections, and describes the numbering system that allows for precise identification of every paragraph. It also clarifies the correct way to reference and cite FAR provisions both within and outside the regulation, and specifies the format for citing legal authorities. Understanding this arrangement is essential for accurately locating, referencing, and complying with FAR requirements in government contracting.
Key Rules
- FAR Structure
- The FAR is divided into subchapters, parts, subparts, sections, and subsections, each covering different aspects of acquisition.
- Numbering System
- FAR numbers are structured to identify parts (before the decimal), subparts and sections (after the decimal), and subsections (after the dash), with further subdivisions using parenthetical alphanumerics.
- References and Citations
- Provides rules for referencing FAR parts, subparts, sections, and subsections both within and outside the FAR, and mandates following Federal Register guidelines for citing legal authorities.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must use correct FAR citations in documents and communications.
- Contractors: Should understand FAR citation structure to accurately interpret requirements and respond to solicitations.
- Agencies: Ensure staff are trained on proper FAR referencing and citation practices.
Practical Implications
- This section exists to standardize how the FAR is organized and referenced, reducing confusion and errors in documentation.
- Accurate citation is critical for compliance, legal clarity, and effective communication in government contracting.
- Common pitfalls include mis-citing FAR provisions or misunderstanding the structure, which can lead to compliance issues or disputes.
(a) General. The FAR is divided into subchapters, parts (each of which covers a separate aspect of acquisition), subparts, sections, and subsections.
(b) Numbering.
(1) The numbering system permits the discrete identification of every FAR paragraph. The digits to the left of the decimal point represent the part number. The numbers to the right of the decimal point and to the left of the dash represent, in order, the subpart (one or two digits), and the section (two digits). The number to the right of the dash represents the subsection. Subdivisions may be used at the section and subsection level to identify individual paragraphs. The following example illustrates the make-up of a FAR number citation (note that subchapters are not used with citations):
(2) Subdivisions below the section or subsection level consist of parenthetical alpha numerics using the following sequence:
(a)(1)(i)(A)(1)(i)
(c) References and citations.
(1) Unless otherwise stated, cross-references indicate parts, subparts, sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, or subdivisions of this regulation.
(2) This regulation may be referred to as the Federal Acquisition Regulation or the FAR.
(3) Using the FAR coverage at 9.106-4(d) as a typical illustration, reference to the–
(i) Part would be "FAR part 9" outside the FAR and "part 9" within the FAR.
(ii) Subpart would be "FAR subpart 9.1" outside the FAR and "subpart 9.1" within the FAR.
(iii) Section would be "FAR 9.106" outside the FAR and "9.106" within the FAR.
(iv) Subsection would be "FAR 9.106-4" outside the FAR and "9.106-4" within the FAR.
(v) Paragraph would be "FAR 9.106-4(d)" outside the FAR and "9.106-4(d)" within the FAR.
(4) Citations of authority (e.g., statutes or Executive orders) in the FAR shall follow the Federal Register form guides.