DFARS
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement
The supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation that contains acquisition policies and procedures specific to the Department of Defense.
What is DFARS?
DFARS implements and supplements the FAR specifically for DoD acquisitions. It adds requirements that are unique to defense contracting, including cybersecurity (DFARS 252.204-7012), specialty metals restrictions, and Buy American provisions specific to defense.
The most impactful DFARS clause for small businesses is 252.204-7012, which requires contractors to implement NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity controls when handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). This clause is the foundation upon which CMMC was built.
Other notable DFARS provisions include restrictions on certain foreign-sourced components, requirements for U.S.-manufactured specialty metals in defense articles, and specific intellectual property provisions that differ from standard FAR clauses.
Understanding DFARS is essential for anyone pursuing DoD contracts. While the FAR applies to all federal agencies, DFARS adds a significant layer of DoD-specific requirements that can catch newcomers off guard if they are only familiar with civilian agency contracting.
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