Overview
This section establishes that certain acquisition forms are governed by external agency regulations rather than the FAR itself, though they are required for use in the federal procurement process. It provides the standardized labeling convention for identifying the original prescribing authority for such forms.
Key Rules
- External Authority: Some forms mentioned in FAR subpart 53.2 are officially prescribed by regulations outside of the FAR.
- Identification Requirement: Every form governed by an external regulation must include a parenthetical notation indicating the prescribing agency.
- Naming Convention: The agency acronym is placed immediately after the form number (e.g., SF 1165 (GAO)).
Practical Implications
- Contracting professionals and contractors can quickly identify the source of authority for a specific form, which is useful if they need to seek additional guidance or the latest version of the form from the originating agency's website.
- It clarifies that while the FAR mandates the use of these forms in acquisition, the substantive rules for the forms' layout and data requirements may reside in other regulatory bodies (like the GAO or GSA).