DFARS 246.402 Government contract quality assurance at source
Section Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement
Facts
- Citation
- DFARS 246.402
- Type
- Section
- Supplements
- FAR 46.402 Government contract quality assurance at source
- Last amended
- 90 FR 41483 Effective Oct 1, 2025
- Text as of
- DFARS Change May 7, 2026
- Official text
- acquisition.gov
Text from acquisition.gov. Federal Register history from the Federal Register's records of the rules that amended this section.
Text
Do not require Government contract quality assurance at source for contracts or delivery orders valued below $400,000, unless—
(1) Mandated by DoD regulation;
(2) Required by a memorandum of agreement between the acquiring department or agency and the contract administration agency; or
(3) The contracting officer determines that—
(i) Contract technical requirements are significant (e.g., the technical requirements include drawings, test procedures, or performance requirements);
(ii) The product being acquired—
(A) Has critical characteristics;
(B) Has specific features identified that make Government contract quality assurance at source necessary; or
(C) Has specific acquisition concerns identified that make Government contract quality assurance at source necessary; and
(iii) The contract is being awarded to—
(A) A manufacturer or producer; or
(B) A non-manufacturer or non-producer and specific Government verifications have been identified as necessary and feasible to perform.
Federal Register history
Quick answers
What is DFARS 246.402?
DFARS 246.402 is a section of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, titled "Government contract quality assurance at source".
When was DFARS 246.402 last changed?
The most recent final rule on record is "Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds (DFARS Case 2024-D002)" (90 FR 41483), published Aug 25, 2025 and effective Oct 1, 2025.
Are changes to DFARS 246.402 proposed?
No proposed rule from the last 3 years is waiting on a final rule.
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