46.203
Criteria for use of contract quality requirements
Contract quality requirements must be tailored to the technical description, complexity, and criticality of the contract item to ensure appropriate oversight and risk management.
Overview
FAR 46.203 establishes the criteria for determining the extent of contract quality requirements, including contractor inspection obligations, based on the classification of the contract item. The regulation directs contracting professionals to consider three main factors: the technical description (commercial or military-federal), the complexity (complex or noncomplex), and the criticality (critical or noncritical application) of the item or service. These criteria help ensure that quality requirements are tailored appropriately to the risk and nature of the contract deliverable, balancing oversight with efficiency.
Key Rules
- Technical Description
- Items are classified as either commercial (referenced in commercial catalogs or standards) or military-federal (described by government specifications).
- Complexity
- Complex items require progressive, detailed quality controls throughout production; noncomplex items can be verified by simple end-item inspection.
- Criticality
- Critical applications are those where failure could harm personnel or jeopardize missions; noncritical applications pose less risk.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must assess and document the technical description, complexity, and criticality of contract items to determine appropriate quality requirements.
- Contractors: Must comply with the specified quality requirements and inspection procedures as determined by the contract.
- Agencies: Should ensure oversight aligns with the risk and nature of the contract deliverable.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures quality requirements are risk-based and not unnecessarily burdensome.
- It impacts how contracts are structured and what inspection or testing is required.
- Common pitfalls include misclassifying items, leading to either excessive or insufficient quality controls.