46.408
Single-agency assignments of Government contract quality assurance
For certain commodities, government contract quality assurance must be coordinated with the designated federal agency to ensure specialized oversight and compliance.
Overview
FAR 46.408 establishes which federal agencies are responsible for providing government contract quality assurance (QA) for specific categories of commodities. It assigns government-wide QA responsibility for drugs, biologics, and other medical supplies to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); for food (excluding seafood) to the Department of Agriculture (USDA); and for seafood to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the Department of Commerce. When an agency needs QA support for these commodities, it must request assistance directly from the designated agency's cognizant office. This ensures specialized oversight and consistent quality standards for critical supplies across the federal government.
Key Rules
- Assignment of QA Responsibility
- FDA handles QA for drugs, biologics, and medical supplies; USDA for food (except seafood); NMFS for seafood.
- Requesting QA Support
- Agencies must directly contact the appropriate agency office to obtain QA support for these commodities.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must coordinate with the designated agency for QA support when procuring covered commodities.
- Contractors: Should be aware that QA may be conducted by these specialized agencies and comply with their requirements.
- Agencies: Must request QA support from the correct cognizant office for relevant acquisitions.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures that QA for sensitive commodities is handled by agencies with the appropriate expertise, reducing risk and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. Failure to coordinate with the correct agency can result in delays or non-compliance. Contractors should anticipate specialized QA procedures when supplying these commodities.