52.246-11
Higher-Level Contract Quality Requirement
Contractors must comply with and flow down specified higher-level quality standards to applicable subcontracts for critical or complex items.
Overview
FAR 52.246-11, Higher-Level Contract Quality Requirement, mandates that contractors comply with specific, higher-level quality standards identified by the contracting officer. These standards are typically more rigorous than basic contract quality requirements and are used for contracts involving critical or complex items. The clause also requires contractors to ensure that these quality standards are flowed down to applicable lower-tier subcontracts, particularly when those subcontracts involve critical/complex items or require stringent controls over design, operations, testing, or documentation.
Key Rules
- Compliance with Higher-Level Quality Standards
- Contractors must adhere to the specific quality standards listed in the contract, which are inserted by the contracting officer.
- Flowdown to Subcontracts
- Contractors must include the applicable higher-level quality requirements in subcontracts for critical/complex items or when technical requirements demand advanced controls or documentation.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Specify the applicable higher-level quality standards in the contract and ensure contractors understand flowdown requirements.
- Contractors: Implement the specified quality standards and ensure lower-tier subcontractors comply when required.
- Agencies: Oversee contractor compliance and verify that flowdown requirements are met in subcontracts.
Practical Implications
- This clause ensures that products and services meet stringent quality standards, especially for high-risk or technically demanding contracts.
- Contractors must pay close attention to both their own quality systems and those of their subcontractors.
- Failure to properly flow down requirements or comply with specified standards can result in noncompliance and potential contract issues.