Contractors Must Spill Patent Beans to Feds Again
Published Date: 2/23/2026
Notice
Summary
The government is asking to keep collecting info from contractors about patents and royalties when they work on federal projects. This mainly affects companies with contracts over $350,000, who must report any patent issues or royalty payments. Comments on this plan are open until March 25, 2026, and it helps keep everything fair and clear without adding new costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 1 mixed.
Notify Govt About Patent/Copyright Claims
If you are a government contractor, FAR 52.227-2 requires you to notify the Government of any patent or copyright infringement allegations that arise while performing a contract and to provide evidence when the contracting officer requests it. This clause also flows down to subcontracts expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT — currently $350,000).
Report Royalties Over $250
If you are an offeror or contractor who anticipates or pays royalties over $250 for use of patented inventions, FAR 52.227-6 requires you to report details such as licensor name, license date, patent numbers, unit prices, units, and total royalty amount. The contracting officer may also request a copy of the license agreement.
Report Inventions from R&D Contracts
Contractors performing experimental, developmental, or research work must report all inventions made under the contract (FAR 52.227-11 or 52.227-13), disclose the invention, and identify any publication, sale, or public use. The contracting officer may require periodic or final reports and contractors must have written employee agreements and procedures to identify and disclose subject inventions.
Three-Year Data Retention and Delivery Rules
Under FAR 52.227-16, contractors must keep additional data produced or specifically used in contract performance for possible delivery to the Government for a period of three years from final acceptance. The Government will pay the contractor for converting, reproducing, and delivering such data when required.
Estimated Annual Paperwork Burden
The information collection estimates 830 respondents, 14,848 total annual responses, and 55,600 total annual burden hours (54,673 reporting hours + 927 recordkeeping hours). These are the Government's estimates of the paperwork and time burden for complying with FAR part 27 information collections.
Small-Business Comment on Disproportionate Impact
A commenter said the collection disproportionately impacts small businesses, citing time, legal review, marking challenges, and invention system maintenance, and recommended recalibrating burden estimates, harmonizing with DFARS, and adopting electronic tools. The FAR Council acknowledged comments but did not change the burden estimate.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-10288 — Information Collection; Architect-Engineer Qualifications (SF-330)
The government wants to keep using the Architect-Engineer Qualifications form (SF-330) for three more years to help pick the best design pros for federal projects. They’re asking architects, engineers, and the public to share thoughts by July 21, 2026, to make sure the form is useful and not too much work. No big cost changes, just a smooth extension to keep things running well.
2026-10289 — Information Collection; Privacy Training
The government agencies OFPP, DoD, GSA, and NASA want to keep their privacy training info collection going for three more years, past October 31, 2026. This affects federal contractors and employees who handle government acquisitions, making sure everyone stays sharp on privacy rules. They’re asking for your thoughts by July 21, 2026, to keep the process smooth and easy without extra costs or hassle.
2026-10287 — Information Collection; Certain Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 28 Requirements
The government agencies in charge of buying stuff—like the Department of Defense and NASA—are asking for your thoughts on keeping some paperwork rules for three more years. These rules help make sure buying processes are clear and fair, but they want to know if the paperwork is worth the effort or if it can be easier. If you’re involved in government contracts, this could affect how you report info until 2027.
2026-09523 — Information Collection; Prospective Subcontractor Requests for Bonds
The government is asking for your thoughts on keeping a form that helps subcontractors request bonds when working on federal projects. This form helps agencies like the DoD, NASA, and GSA make sure subcontractors are reliable and financially secure. They want to extend the use of this form for three more years, so if you’re involved in federal contracts, your input matters before July 13, 2026!
2026-09527 — Information Collection; Preaward Survey Forms (Standard Forms 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1407, and 1408)
The government wants to keep using six important preaward survey forms that help check if companies are ready to work on federal contracts. They’re asking for your thoughts on how useful these forms are and how to make them easier to fill out. Comments are open until July 13, 2026, and if all goes well, these forms will stay in use for three more years without extra costs.
2026-09525 — Information Collection; Contract Financing
The government agencies in charge of buying stuff—like the Department of Defense, NASA, and others—are asking to keep collecting info about contract payments for three more years. They want your thoughts on how this info helps them work better and how to make it easier to share. If you’re involved in government contracts, this could affect how you report payment details, with no new costs but a chance to improve the process.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-03506 — Combined Notice of Filings
Golden Pass Pipeline and LNG Terminal found they made a mistake in how they calculated depreciation from December 2023 to the end of 2024. They’ve asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to fix the accounting records. People affected have until March 10, 2026, to speak up or get involved, which could impact how money is reported and handled.
Next: 2026-03509 — Submission for OMB Review; Buy American, Trade Agreements, and Duty-Free Entry
The government is asking to keep collecting info from companies about how they follow Buy American rules, trade agreements, and duty-free entry when selling to the U.S. This affects businesses bidding on federal contracts and helps ensure they meet domestic content and trade law requirements. Comments are open until March 25, 2026, so get ready to share your thoughts!