Overview
This section mandates that federal agencies establish internal controls to limit the issuance of supplemental regulations, ensuring they do not unnecessarily restrict FAR flexibilities or create redundant or conflicting requirements.
Key Rules
- Control and Limitation: Agencies must implement formal review procedures to restrict the proliferation of local directives and ensure compliance with FAR Part 1.
- Avoidance of Redundancy: Agency regulations are prohibited from repeating, paraphrasing, or restating material already found in the FAR or higher-level agency supplements.
- Consistency: Supplemental regulations must not conflict or be inconsistent with the FAR, except where required by law or authorized as a deviation under subpart 1.4.
- FAR Inclusion: Agencies are required to evaluate their unique regulatory coverage; if a rule is applicable to other agencies rather than being agency-specific, it must be recommended for inclusion in the FAR itself.
Practical Implications
- This section protects contractors from navigating a "patchwork" of conflicting local rules by forcing agencies to justify any deviations from standard FAR procedures.
- It streamlines the acquisition process by keeping agency-level supplements focused only on agency-unique needs rather than restating established federal law.