ISSUED BY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration

Policy Analysis & Coordination Center
Procurement & Property Management
Procurement Policy Division

1996 EDITION

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 14, 1996

FOREWORD

The Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR), located in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at Title 48, Chapter 4, is issued under the authorities of the Secretary of Agriculture. The AGAR prescribes policies and procedures that implement and supplement the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which is the primary regulation for use by all Federal Executive agencies in the acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds. All references in this loose-leaf version to "Chapter 4" or "this Chapter" refer to the AGAR.

The AGAR has been revised as part of the National Performance Review (NPR) program to eliminate unnecessary regulations and improve those that remain in effect.

This 1996 loose-leaf edition of the AGAR supersedes the previous editions.

Due to the dynamic nature of acquisition rules, the AGAR will be revised as necessary to implement FAR changes or to add supplementary material for which there is no FAR counterpart. In accordance with 41 U.S.C. 418b, the Department will publish in the Federal Register (48 CFR Chapter 4) those AGAR policies, procedures, and forms, which have a significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures of the Department, or a significant cost or administrative impact on contractors or prospective contractors. However, the Department may elect to publish or not to publish those rules in the Federal Register, which do not meet the above criteria of significant effect, cost, or administrative impact.

AGRICULTURE ACQUISITION REGULATION

General Structure

SUBCHAPTER A--GENERAL

Part 401--Agriculture Acquisition Regulation System
Part 402--Definitions of Words and Terms
Part 403--Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of Interest
Part 404--Administrative Matters

SUBCHAPTER B--COMPETITION AND ACQUISITION PLANNING

Part 405--Publicizing Contract Actions
Part 406--Competition Requirements
Part 407--Acquisition Planning
Part 408--Required Sources of Supplies and Services
Part 409--Contractor Qualifications
Part 410--[Reserved]
Part 411--Describing Agency Needs
Part 412--Acquisition of Commercial Items

SUBCHAPTER C--CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES

Part 413--Simplified Acquisition Procedures
Part 414--Sealed Bidding
Part 415--Contracting by Negotiation
Part 416--Types of Contracts
Part 417--Special Contracting Methods
Part 418--[Reserved]

SUBCHAPTER D--SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS

Part 419--Small Business Programs
Part 420--[Reserved]
Part 421--[Reserved]
Part 422--Application of Labor Laws to Government Acquisitions
Part 423--Environment, Conservation, Occupational Safety, and Drug-Free Workplace
Part 424--Protection of Privacy and Freedom of Information
Part 425--Foreign Acquisition
Part 426--Other Socioeconomic Programs

SUBCHAPTER E--GENERAL CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS

Part 427--Patents, Data, and Copyrights
Part 428--Bonds and Insurance
Part 429--[Reserved]
Part 430--Cost Accounting Standards Administration
Part 431--Contract Cost Principles and Procedures
Part 432--Contract Financing
Part 433--Protests, Disputes and Appeals

SUBCHAPTER F--SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF CONTRACTING

Part 434--Major System Acquisition
Part 435--Research and Development Contracting
Part 436--Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts
Part 437--Service Contracting
Part 438--[Reserved]
Part 439--[Reserved]
Part 440--[Reserved]
Part 441--Acquisition of Utility Services

SUBCHAPTER G--CONTRACT MANAGEMENT

Part 442--Contract Administration
Part 443--[Reserved]
Part 444--[Reserved]
Part 445--Government Property
Part 446--Quality Assurance
Part 447--Transportation
Part 448--[Reserved]
Part 449--Termination of Contracts
Part 450--Extraordinary Contractual Actions
Part 451--[Reserved]

SUBCHAPTER H--CLAUSES AND FORMS

Part 452--Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses
Part 453--Forms

STRUCTURE OF THE AGAR TO THE SUBPART LEVEL