Glossary / Regulations, Acquisition
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation SupplementDFARS
The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) is DoW's implementation of and supplement to the FAR. It contains DoW-specific clauses covering cybersecurity (252.204-7012), CMMC (252.204-7021), country-of-origin restrictions (Berry Amendment, 252.225-7012), commercial item determinations, Buy American applications, and more. DFARS clauses are mandatory on DoW contracts; subparts also govern the Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI) companion document used day-to-day by contracting officers.
Why it matters to your pipeline
Many of the hardest compliance obligations for defense contractors originate in DFARS, not FAR. Cybersecurity, supply-chain country-of-origin, and cost-accounting requirements all flow from DFARS. Missing a required DFARS clause flow-down to subcontractors can create prime liability; noncompliance with the clauses themselves can support False Claims Act cases. Anyone bidding on DoW work needs to read the DFARS clauses in a solicitation, not only the FAR ones.
When this term shows up in an opening GovSmith finds for you, your vCM explains what it means for that pursuit and does whatever it calls for. You decide; we do the work.
Example
A prime flows DFARS 252.204-7012 to a subcontractor handling technical data. When the sub reports a cyber incident, the prime reports within 72 hours to DoW through DIBNet, preserving the prime's compliance posture.
Find out what applies to you
Some terms will matter to your business right away and some won’t for years. A vCM can tell you which are which.