Overview
This section provides specific regulatory definitions for "advertisement" and "publication" to clarify the scope of oversight for paid public notices within federal procurement.
Key Rules
- Advertisement: Defined as a single, discrete message prepared for communication media; the classification remains a single advertisement regardless of the frequency or number of times it is placed.
- Publication (Print): Encompasses the act of placing an advertisement in newspapers, magazines, trade or professional journals, or any other form of printed media.
- Publication (Broadcast): Specifically includes the dissemination of an advertisement via radio or television broadcasting.
Practical Implications
- Contracting officers must understand that "advertisement" refers to the creative content itself, which simplifies the authorization process when a single message is run across multiple dates or outlets.
- The definitions ensure that any paid government notice, whether in a local newspaper or on a radio station, is subject to the formal approval and "Paid Advertisement" regulations outlined in FAR Subpart 5.5.