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FAR

FAR Revisions – making it simple

FAR Reform: What Contractors Need to Know About the Latest Proposed Changes

The FAR Council continues to update the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in response to the executive order “Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement.” These proposed changes aim to simplify and streamline federal buying. So far, updates target FAR Parts 1, 10, 11, 18, 34, 39, 43, and 52.

Although these changes are still in the review stage, many agencies have already started applying them. Here’s what federal contractors should know:

New Proposed FAR Revisions – In Plain Terms

Part 10: Market Research

  • Agencies now have more flexibility in how they conduct market research at any dollar level.
  • They must still research larger buys (above the simplified acquisition threshold).
  • They no longer have to research smaller buys if good pricing info is available.
  • The FAR removes suggested research steps.
  • New clause FAR 52.210-1 (Market Research) will appear in solicitations and contracts for noncommercial buys over $6 million.

Part 11: Describing Agency Needs

  • Agencies no longer need to prioritize green products listed in the Green Procurement Compilation.
  • Agencies can rely on commercial market acceptance to decide if an item fits their needs.
  • Removes measures controlling the identification and availability of specifications.
  • The FAR drops specific rules for specs and delivery schedules.
  • It keeps rules under DPAS for contracts tied to national defense and emergency programs.

Part 18: Emergency Acquisitions

  • Agencies no longer need to prioritize sustainable options during emergency buys.
  • Emergency flexibilities remain in place for disasters, security events, and contingency operations.

Part 39: Buying IT and Communications Tech

  • Contracting officers do not need to evaluate every stage of modular IT contracts for the best contract vehicle.
  • Agencies will no longer need IT vendors to list minimum education or experience for proposed staff.

Part 43: Contract Modifications

  • The FAR clarifies how agencies should document and define change orders.
  • Contracting officers won’t have to list every major event when reviewing requests for pricing adjustments.

What This Means for Contractors

These changes mark a shift toward faster, more practical procurement. Even though the FAR updates are not finalized, agencies are already putting many into action. Contractors should track these changes closely to stay ahead, and stay compliant, to stay competitive.

Questions regarding the latest proposed revisions to the FAR? Give us a call.

A New and Improved FAR coming your way

GSA Hosts Webinar on Transformative Federal Procurement Changes

The General Services Administration (GSA) hosted a live webinar last week to discuss major reforms reshaping the future of federal acquisition. The session focused on two recent Executive Orders EO 14240, which consolidates federal procurement under GSA, and EO 14275, which launches a sweeping overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Together, these changes aim to streamline buying, cut waste, and open government contracting to more innovation and efficiency. (GSA webinar to discuss executive orders) May 28, 2025)

Consolidating Federal Procurement: EO 14240

Jeff Koses, GSA’s Senior Procurement Executive, explained how EO 14240 shifts common goods and services procurement under GSA’s leadership. This move will eliminate redundancy, reduce cost, and enable agencies to concentrate on mission delivery. GSA will now act as the Executive Agent for all Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), aligning those currently managed by NASA and NIH into GSA’s centralized procurement strategy. (ibid)

GSA will collaborate with OMB, NASA, and NIH to assess current GWACs, resources, and commitments, building a cohesive transition plan. The 10 key spending categories, Information Technology, Professional Services, Security & Protection, Facilities & Construction, Industrial Products & Services, Office Management, Transportation & Logistics, Travel, Medical, and
Human Capital will fall under GSA’s streamlined acquisition umbrella. (ibid)

FAR Overhaul: EO 14275

The second half of the webinar focused on EO 14275, which calls for a modernized, intuitive, and mission-focused FAR. Koses highlighted that the current FAR is too complex and deters many businesses, especially small and innovative firms, from entering the federal marketplace. (ibid)

The FAR rewrite dubbed the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), is being implemented through a series of deviations and will remove low-value administrative burdens while maintaining key protections against waste and fraud. New resources, including a FAR Companion Guide, Practitioner Albums, and Buying Guides, will support acquisition professionals and contractors as the rewrite rolls out. (ibid)

Parts of the revised FAR are already available on Acquisition.gov, and the public can comment directly on proposed changes. GSA also announced new training efforts in partnership with FAI and DAU to support the acquisition workforce in adopting the changes. (ibid)

What This Means for Industry

These changes signal a major shift for contractors:

  • Greater opportunity for innovative and small businesses to compete.
  • Streamlined acquisition timelines and reduced barriers to entry.
  • Increased emphasis on commercial buying and mission-first contracting. (ibid)

What’s Next

GSA will continue collecting agency implementation plans and begin analyzing them with OMB. The agency stressed the importance of collaboration with stakeholders and the acquisition workforce during this transitional period. (ibid)

To stay informed, stakeholders can sign up for RFO updates, download new FAR parts and guides, and share feedback directly on Acquisition.gov. (ibid)

This marks a new chapter in federal acquisition—one aimed at making government buying faster, smarter, and more accessible.

Questions concerning the FAR and the overhaul? Give us a call.

Trump Administration Moves to Overhaul Federal Procurement Rules

On April 15, 2025, President Trump signed two executive orders (EOs) aimed at transforming federal procurement. These actions directly impact contractors by pushing the system toward commercial solutions and simplified regulations. Insidegovernmentcontracts.com April 16, 2025

EO #1: “Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement” (FAR Reform EO)

This EO directs the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and the FAR Council to revise the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to include only what statutes require or what’s essential to sound procurement. Agencies must:

  • Appoint senior officials by April 30 to align their procurement rules.
  • Follow interim deviations and guidance ahead of final FAR amendments.
  • Prepare for potential “sunset” of non-statutory FAR clauses after four years unless renewed. (ibid)

OMB will issue implementation guidance by May 5 and enforce a “ten-for-one” rule—repealing 10 regulations for every new one added.

EO #2: “Ensuring Commercial, Cost-Effective Solutions in Federal Contracts” (Commercial Solutions EO)

This order requires agencies to prioritize commercial products and services under the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA). Contracting officers must:

  • Justify any pending non-commercial procurements by June 14.
  • Submit their justifications for senior procurement executive (SPE) review within 30 days.
  • Obtain SPE approval for any future non-commercial contracts, with market research, price analysis, and rationale. (ibid)

Agencies must report progress to OMB within 120 days and annually thereafter, detailing compliance with FASA and progress on implementing the Order’s commerciality preference. (ibid)

What Contractors Should Do

  • Expect regulatory shifts that may change compliance obligations mid-contract.
  • Review current proposals to identify where you can frame your offering as a commercial item.
  • Engage proactively with contracting officers to support market-based solutions and pricing.

These changes aim to streamline procurement, reduce regulation, and shift focus toward cost-effective, commercially available solutions. (ibid)

Not certain how to frame your product/service as commercially available? Give us a call.

A New Rule for Cleaner Contracts


The Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and NASA have jointly issued a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation to enforce the procurement and utilization of sustainable products and services as identified or recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This initiative aims to align federal agencies with environmentally responsible practices, promoting the purchase of products and services that meet specific sustainability criteria. Notably, the rule mandates the acquisition of WaterSense-label water-efficient products and services, as well as Safer Choice-certified products containing safer chemical ingredients, as outlined by the White House. (Executive Gov April 22, 2024)

In addition to the specified product requirements, the final rule compels federal agencies to adhere to the EPA’s recommended environmental standards and ecolabels, which were updated in October 2023. These standards serve as guidance for purchasers to accurately identify and procure environmentally preferable products and services, contributing to the overall sustainability efforts of the government. EPA Administrator Michael Regan emphasized the significance of these enhanced purchasing standards in advancing the administration’s environmental objectives while concurrently bolstering domestic manufacturing and fostering economic growth nationwide. (ibid)

Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Brenda Mallory, underscored the role of the new standards in supporting President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. By prioritizing the purchase of sustainable products and services certified to EPA-recommended standards and ecolabels, federal agencies can contribute to job creation within the United States while advancing climate action and environmental sustainability goals. Ultimately, this final rule is aligned with the Biden administration’s Federal Sustainability Plan, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions and other procurement objectives by 2050, signaling a significant step towards a more sustainable future.

Looking to align your contracts more closely to the GSA/NASA final FAR regulation? Give us a call.

Prohibited telcom equipment may cost you

The General Services Administration’s (GSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) published a new report highlighting GSA’s failure to address prohibited telecom items on its Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts. The report states that this puts customers at risk of unauthorized surveillance by foreign adversaries. In 2017 and 2018, Congress passed laws prohibiting the procurement of certain telecom and video surveillance services from specific entities, with FAS responsible for ensuring compliance. However, the OIG report reveals that FAS’s reliance on contractor self-certifications and the Prohibited Products Robomod process is inadequate in preventing the inclusion of prohibited items on MAS contract price lists. (MerriTalk July 11,2023)

The report also identifies FAS’s shortcomings in taking sufficient action against contractors violating Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) restrictions, as well as the lack of a process to notify customer agencies about purchases of prohibited telecom items. Furthermore, FAS initially failed to comply with FAR requirements by not including subsidiaries and affiliates of named entities in their efforts to identify prohibited items on MAS contracts. To address these issues, the OIG has made five recommendations to FAS Commissioner Sonny Hashmi, including strengthening controls and implementing more stringent consequences for non-compliant contractors. (ibid)

This report from the GSA’s OIG follows the release of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “Covered List,” which prohibits the sale of telecom network equipment and services from certain China-based providers due to national security concerns. The FCC’s ban aims to safeguard the nation’s communications networks and enhance the security and resilience of the domestic supply chain. These efforts reflect the commitment of both agencies to protect national security and mitigate risks associated with unauthorized telecommunications equipment and services. (ibid)

Questions about prohibited telcom items? give us a call.