Government contract quality assurance for acquisitions at or below the simplified acquisition threshold
For contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, quality assurance requirements are generally minimal but must be increased for critical or high-risk items.
Overview
FAR 46.404 outlines the requirements for government contract quality assurance (QA) for acquisitions at or below the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT). The regulation directs contracting officers to tailor the type and extent of QA based on the criticality of the supplies or services, potential losses, and the ease of replacing defective work. Generally, inspections for these contracts are less rigorous, focusing on basic attributes such as type, quantity, damage, operability, and packaging. However, special situations—such as contracts for critical items or those with higher risk—may require more detailed QA measures, including standard or higher-level inspection requirements. The regulation also allows for reduced inspection frequency when a contractor has a proven history of defect-free performance on repetitive purchases.