Authority
E.O. 14275 (Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement); E.O. 14265 (Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base); E.O. 14402 (Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting); OMB Memorandum M-25-26 (Overhauling the Federal Acquisition Regulation)
Summary
This deviation revises and supersedes Class Deviation 2026-O0045, issued 2026-02-20. Contracting officers must use the revised Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 16 and the attached revised Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS) Part 216, along with the revised DFARS Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI) 216, in place of the codified text. The revision implements fixed-price contracts as the default procurement method, streamlines approval authorities for exceptions to fair opportunity and removes unnecessary regulatory text.
Contracting Officer Actions
1
Effective immediately, use the revised FAR Part 16 from the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) web page. It replaces the codified text at 48 CFR chapter 1.
2
Use the attached revised DFARS Part 216. It replaces the codified text at 48 CFR chapter 2.
3
Use the attached revised DFARS PGI 216. It replaces the PGI text on the Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy web page.
4
For exceptions to fair opportunity, use approval authorities at DFARS 206.104 instead of FAR 16.507(e).
5
Do not use a cost-reimbursement line item for production of major defense acquisition programs unless the exception at 234.7202(b)(2) applies.
6
For military construction or military family housing projects, do not use cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-award-fee or cost-plus-incentive-fee contract types per DFARS 216.301-370.
7
For time-and-materials (T&M) or labor-hour contracts with a base period plus options of 3 years or less exceeding $1 million, obtain approval from the senior contracting official. This authority is not delegable.
8
For T&M or labor-hour contracts with a base period plus options exceeding 3 years, obtain head of contracting activity (HCA) approval. This authority is not delegable.
9
Insert clause 252.216-7004, Award Fee Reduction or Denial for Jeopardizing the Health or Safety of Government Personnel, in all solicitations and contracts containing award-fee provisions.
10
Insert clause 252.216-7009, Allowability of Legal Costs Incurred in Connection With a Whistleblower Proceeding, in contracts and task orders issued on or after 2013-09-30 that meet the criteria at DFARS 216.305-70.
11
Insert clause 252.216-7010, Postaward Debriefings for Task Orders and Delivery Orders, in competitive negotiated solicitations and contracts, including commercial (Part 12) acquisitions, when a multiple-award contract is contemplated and task or delivery orders may be valued at $15 million or more.
12
For solicitations issued on or after 2026-07-15 that require non-fixed-price contract types covered by Executive Order 14402, obtain an approved justification before issuing the solicitation. Submit justifications requiring Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) approval to the Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy (DPCAP) office.
13
For solicitations issued before 2026-07-15 with a planned award after 2026-07-15, obtain an approved justification before award but no later than 2027-07-15.
14
For existing covered contracts with at least 18 months remaining as of 2026-07-15, obtain an approved justification by 2027-07-15.
15
Insert provisions 252.215-7007, Notice of Intent to Resolicit, and 252.215-7992, Only One Offer (DEVIATION 2026-O0048), as prescribed at DFARS 215.202-71(f) and 215.110-70(c).
16
For indefinite-delivery contracts, furnish all ordering offices sufficient information to complete contract reporting responsibilities under DFARS 204.301 within three working days of the order.
17
When placing orders for end products identified by a material identifier available in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS), consider SPRS assessments of item risk if item risk was not previously considered at contract award.
18
Insert provision 252.204-7024, Notice on the Use of the Supplier Performance Risk System, as prescribed at DFARS 204.7604, to the extent permitted by the contract.
19
Address inquiries regarding this deviation to osd.pentagon.ousd-a-s.mbx.dfars@mail.mil.
Supersession
This revision supersedes the original Class Deviation 2026-O0045 issued 2026-02-20. Contracting officers must use this revised version immediately.
Expiration
This deviation remains in effect until rescinded or incorporated into the FAR, DFARS and DFARS PGI. No calendar expiration date applies.
Fixed-Price Default
E.O. 14402 establishes fixed-price contracts as the default and preferred procurement method. Non-fixed-price contract types require a written justification under DFARS 216.104-70 and PGI 216.104-70.
EO 14402 Justification Timelines
PGI 216.104-70 sets phased justification submission deadlines. Contracting officers should review those timelines carefully for solicitations anticipated before and after 2026-10-01.
Award-Fee Pool
At least 40 percent of the award-fee pool must be available for the final evaluation period. The HCA may approve a lower percentage, but that approval is not delegable.
Basic Ordering Agreements
Orders under basic ordering agreements may not span a period exceeding 5 years per DFARS 216.703-370.
Affected Provisions and Clauses
252.216-7005
CLAUSE
Modify clause 252.216-7005
MODIFIED
Clause Text Changes
Original (removed)
Deviation (added)
Unchanged
252.216-7002 Alternate A, Time-and-Materials/Labor-Hour Proposal Requirements--Other Than Commercial Acquisition with Adequate Price Competition: Paragraph (c)
Original: JAN 2023
Deviation: JAN 2023 (DEVIATION 2026-O0045)