Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the principal set of rules in the Federal Acquisition Regulation System. This system consists of sets of regulations issued by agencies of the Federal government of the United States to govern what is called the “acquisition process,” which is the process through which the government purchases (“acquires”) goods and services. That process consists of three phases:

1. need recognition and acquisition planning
2. contract formation
3. contract administration

The FAR System regulates the activities of government personnel in carrying out that process.