Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)

Definition

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

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 understand DFARS as fluently as FAR.

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.

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