Overview
This section establishes the administrative process for applying "alternates"—major variations to standard FAR provisions or clauses—and dictates the specific formatting and citation requirements for their use in government contracts.
Key Rules
- Definition and Location: Alternates represent major variations to a basic provision or clause and are prescribed within the same FAR subject text where the base clause is located.
- Naming Convention: Alternates are sequentially titled using Roman numerals (e.g., "Alternate I," "Alternate II").
- Citation Requirements: When used, the contracting officer must cite both the date of the basic clause and the specific date of the alternate (e.g., 52.209-3 (Oct 1983)—Alternate I (Dec 1983)).
- Multiple Alternates: If the situation warrants, multiple alternates can be applied to a single provision or clause, and each must be individually cited.
- Exclusivity: An alternate is legally tied to its specific provision or clause and cannot be applied to any other clause in the FAR.
Practical Implications
- Administrative Precision: Contracting officers and contractors must ensure that contract documents reflect the exact version and date of an alternate to avoid ambiguity regarding which specific legal requirements apply to the procurement.
- Tailoring: The use of alternates allows the government to modify standard contract language for specific circumstances (such as small business set-offs or specific agency requirements) without rewriting the entire basic clause.