Agency Information

Because of the different structures and various missions of the various federal agencies, a one-size-fits-all approach is not feasible.  This is why the FAR permits federal agencies to issue supplemental acquisition regulations as a way to explain or implement the basic FAR requirements in a way that fits their particular Agency.  Agencies vary widely regarding the details they provide regarding their agency-level protest procedures.  For example:

• The Department of Defense has the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, also referred to as DFARS.  Individual agencies within the Department of Defense may have additional policies and directives, such as —
  • The Air Force has the Air Force Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (AFFARS) 
  • The Army has the Army Federal Acquistion Supplement (AFARS) 
  • The Navy and Marines have the Navy Marine Corps Acquisition Supplement (NMCARS)  
• The Department of Transportation has the Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR)  
• The Department of the Treasury has the Department of the Treasury Acquisition Regulation (DTAR)
• The Internal Revenue Service has the Internal Revenue Service Acquisition Procedure (IRSAP).  
• The Justice Acquisition Regulation (JAR) covers the following offices and agencies: Assistant Attorney General for Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Prison Industries, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Office of the Inspector General.

The benefit of the FAR permitting federal agencies to implement agency guidance is that it permits a particular agency to conduct business in a way that best fits is mission needs.  However, the drawback is that not all federal agencies will conduct business in the same manner, which can potentially lead to confusion when federal agencies conduct transactions with each other.