46.401 General
Source: FAR 46.401 on acquisition.gov
Government contract quality assurance must be planned, documented, and performed at designated times and places to ensure contract compliance, with clear procedures for inspection, documentation, and oversight.
Overview
FAR 46.401 outlines the general requirements for government contract quality assurance (QA). It mandates that QA activities be conducted at appropriate times and locations—including subcontractor facilities—to ensure supplies or services meet contract requirements. Quality assurance surveillance plans should be developed alongside the statement of work, specifying both the work to be surveilled and the methods used. Contracts must clearly state where the government reserves the right to perform QA. If QA is to be performed at the source, any change in location requires contracting officer approval. When inspection occurs away from the delivery destination, reinspection at destination is generally limited to checking for quantity, transit damage, or fraud. All government inspections must be performed or supervised by government personnel and documented according to agency procedures. Agencies may use stamps to indicate inspection status and control materials.
(a) Government contract quality assurance shall be performed at such times (including any stage of manufacture or performance of services) and places (including subcontractors’ plants) as may be necessary to determine that the supplies or services conform to contract requirements. Quality assurance surveillance plans should be prepared in conjunction with the preparation of the statement of work. The plans should specify-
(1) All work requiring surveillance; and
(2) The method of surveillance.
(b) Each contract shall designate the place or places where the Government reserves the right to perform quality assurance.
(c) If the contract provides for performance of Government quality assurance at source, the place or places of performance may not be changed without the authorization of the contracting officer.
(d) If a contract provides for delivery and acceptance at destination and the Government inspects the supplies at a place other than destination, the supplies shall not ordinarily be reinspected at destination, but should be examined for quantity, damage in transit, and possible substitution or fraud.
(e) Government inspection shall be performed by or under the direction or supervision of Government personnel.
(f) Government inspection shall be documented on an inspection or receiving report form or commercial shipping document/packing list, under agency procedures (see subpart 46.6).
(g) Agencies may prescribe the use of inspection approval or disapproval stamps to identify and control supplies and material that have been inspected for conformance with contract quality requirements.