Overview
FAR 9.304 identifies specific scenarios where first article testing and approval are typically unnecessary, primarily because the quality of the product is already established through other means or the nature of the work makes such testing redundant.
Key Rules
- Research and Development (R&D): Testing and approval are generally not required for R&D contracts.
- Pre-award Qualification: Items that require qualification before a contract is awarded (such as those on a Qualified Products List) are exempt.
- Commercial Products: Products regularly sold in the commercial marketplace are excluded from these requirements.
- Detailed Specifications: Items with complete and detailed technical specifications are exempt unless the requirements are so novel or exacting that the government's risk justifies the testing.
Practical Implications
- Contracting Officers can reduce procurement lead times and administrative costs by applying these exceptions to avoid redundant testing procedures.
- The regulation provides a "risk-based" exception for detailed specifications, allowing the government to mandate testing only when a product's complexity or novelty creates significant performance uncertainty.