Overview
FAR 12.300 defines the specific purpose of Subpart 12.3, which is to prescribe the mandatory solicitation provisions and contract clauses required for the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services.
Key Rules
- Applicability: The subpart applies exclusively to acquisitions conducted under the procedures for commercial items.
- Standardization: It establishes the regulatory basis for using standardized terms and conditions (specifically the FAR 52.212 series) to streamline the procurement process.
- Scope Limitation: This section limits the regulatory reach of the subpart to the specific provisions and clauses utilized in commercial contracting, rather than general procurement policy.
Practical Implications
- Contracting officers must refer to this subpart to ensure they are using the correct, simplified clause set intended to mirror the commercial marketplace rather than traditional, more burdensome government-unique requirements.
- For contractors, this section signals that the governing terms of their agreement will be found within the framework established by this subpart, typically resulting in fewer "flow-down" requirements than non-commercial contracts.