9.302
General
Contracting officers must carefully justify the need for first article testing by evaluating cost, risk, and alternative quality assurance methods before making it a contract requirement.
Overview
FAR 9.302 outlines the general principles for requiring first article testing and approval in government contracts. This process is used to verify that a contractor can deliver products that meet all contract requirements before full production or delivery. The regulation requires contracting officers to carefully evaluate whether first article testing is necessary by considering its impact on cost and delivery schedules, the risks to the government if testing is omitted, and whether there are more cost-effective ways to ensure product quality. The intent is to balance quality assurance with efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the procurement process.
Key Rules
- Consideration of Testing and Approval
- Contracting officers must assess the need for first article testing before including it as a contract requirement.
- Evaluation Criteria
- Officers must weigh the impact on cost and delivery time, the risk of not conducting the test, and the availability of alternative quality assurance methods.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must justify the need for first article testing and document their evaluation of cost, risk, and alternatives.
- Contractors: Should be prepared to comply with first article testing if required and understand the rationale behind its inclusion.
- Agencies: Should ensure oversight and that first article testing is used judiciously and only when necessary.
Practical Implications
- This section exists to prevent unnecessary testing requirements that could increase costs or delay delivery.
- It impacts daily contracting by requiring a thoughtful, case-by-case approach to quality assurance.
- Common pitfalls include overuse of first article testing or failing to consider less costly alternatives.