Feds Launch Revolutionary Acquisition Rule Cleanup
Published Date: 6/23/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The government is shaking up how it buys stuff by cutting confusing rules in parts 3 and 49 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This change affects contractors and agencies, aiming to save taxpayer money and speed up buying processes. Comments are open until July 23, 2026, so jump in and share your thoughts!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Non‑statutory Rules Moved to Guidance
If you sell to the Federal Government, the rule strips non‑statutory ‘‘how to’’ requirements out of FAR parts 3 and 49 and moves many of those items into non‑regulatory guidance (like the FAR Companion). The rule keeps statutory obligations but removes duplicative or obsolete regulatory text to make compliance simpler and clearer.
Stronger Protections for Bid Markings
If you submit proposals, contracting officers must now notify you and provide a written justification period before canceling or ignoring markings on bid or proposal information. The rule also states that proposals remain exempt from disclosure under 41 U.S.C. 4702 regardless of marking disputes and aligns marking review with procurement integrity procedures.
Audits for Settlements Become Risk‑Based
The rule would change FAR 49.107 so audits of prime contractor and subcontractor termination settlement proposals are permissive and risk‑based instead of mandatory. The certified cost or pricing data threshold is removed as an automatic trigger, giving the termination contracting officer discretion to require audit support when risk warrants it.
Shorter Deadlines for Termination Submissions
The rule shortens several contract termination deadlines: inventory schedules drop from 120 days to 60 days after termination, inventory extension requests must be made within 30 days of termination notice, termination settlement proposals drop from 1 year to 90 days, and contractor extension requests drop from 1 year to 60 days. Contractors may still request more time when justified.
Clearer Clause Applicability and Subcontract Flow‑Downs
The rule updates clause prescriptions to clearly show when specific FAR clauses apply to commercial products, COTS items, and commercial services, and clarifies whether clauses must flow down to commercial subcontracts. The preamble includes tables showing proposed applicability for many clauses (for example, several 52.203 clauses are marked to apply to commercial products and services).
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19160, Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35
The government is shaking up how it buys stuff by simplifying key contract rules in parts 16, 17, and 35 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This change affects federal agencies and contractors, aiming to cut red tape and save taxpayer money. Comments on the proposed changes are open until October 19, 2026, so get ready to weigh in!
2026-19442, Information Collection; Paperwork Reduction Act Changes in FAR Case 2026-010, Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 14, 28, 36, and 52
The FAR Council (including DoD, GSA, NASA, and OFPP) is shaking up federal buying rules in parts 14, 28, 36, and 52 to make paperwork easier and smarter. They want your thoughts on how these changes affect the info they collect and how much time it takes. If you work with government contracts, this could save you time and hassle—just be sure to share your feedback by November 23, 2026!
2026-19444, Information Collection; Paperwork Reduction Act Changes in FAR Case 2026-011, Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 9, 27, and 47
The FAR Council is shaking things up with a big update to federal rules on government buying, focusing on parts 9, 27, and 47. This affects contractors and agencies by changing how they collect and handle paperwork, aiming to make it easier and clearer. They want your thoughts by November 23, 2026, to help reduce hassle and keep costs in check.
2026-19443, Information Collection; Paperwork Reduction Act Changes in FAR Case 2026-006, Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35
The FAR Council (including DoD, GSA, NASA, and OFPP) is shaking up federal buying rules in parts 16, 17, and 35 to make paperwork easier and smarter. They want your thoughts on how these changes affect info collection, aiming to cut down hassle and boost clarity. If you’re involved in government contracts, speak up by November 23, 2026, to help shape a smoother, faster process that could save time and money.
2026-19158, Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 14, 28, 36, and 52
The government is shaking up how it buys stuff by simplifying key rules in the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This affects contractors and agencies working with parts 14, 28, 36, and 52, aiming to save taxpayer money and cut red tape. Comments on these changes are open until October 19, 2026, so get ready to weigh in!
2026-19162, Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Parts 8, 12, 13, 15, 38, 44, and 51
The government is shaking up how it buys stuff by simplifying big rules that slowed things down and wasted money. This affects contractors, agencies, and taxpayers by cutting red tape in key buying steps, making deals faster and smarter. Comments on these changes are open until October 19, 2026, so get ready for a smoother, more efficient federal buying process soon!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-12561, Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 5, 24, and 29
The government is shaking up how it buys stuff by simplifying rules in parts 5, 24, and 29 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This change affects all federal agencies and contractors, aiming to save taxpayer money and cut red tape. Comments on the proposed changes are open until July 23, 2026, so get ready to weigh in!
Next: 2026-12563, Cotton Board Rules and Regulations: Adjusting Supplemental Assessment on Imports (2025 Amendments)
The USDA is proposing to lower the value used to calculate extra fees on imported cotton, so importers pay the same as U.S. cotton growers. This update keeps the fees fair and reflects changes since 2024. Importers and businesses dealing with cotton products should weigh in by July 23, 2026, before the new rules take effect.