How to Cite the FAR: Parts, Clauses, Supplements, and CFR Format

To cite the Federal Acquisition Regulation, use “FAR” followed by the number for most working documents (for example, FAR 9.106-4), and switch to the full Code of Federal Regulations form — 48 C.F.R. § 9.106-4 (2025) — for legal briefs, protests, and other formal filings. The exact convention shifts a little depending on whether you are citing a part, a subpart, a section, a subsection, a paragraph, or a contract clause, and whether you are writing inside a FAR document or outside one.

Reading a FAR Number

Every FAR citation traces back to the numbering system in FAR 1.105-2.1eCFR. Federal Acquisition Regulation 1.105-2 Using 9.106-4 as an example:

  • The digits left of the decimal are the part. Here, part 9.
  • The digits right of the decimal but before the dash give the subpart and section. The first one or two digits are the subpart (1); the last two are the section (06).
  • The number after the dash is the subsection (4).
  • Anything below subsection is a paragraph, shown in parentheticals following the sequence (a)(1)(i)(A)(1)(i). So 9.106-4(d) points to paragraph (d).

A section with no subsection drops the dash and trailing digit. FAR 1.101 is part 1, subpart 1, section 01.2eCFR. 48 CFR 1.101 — Purpose Subchapter letters do not appear in citations.

Everyday Citation Format by Level

FAR 1.105-2(c)(3) sets exact conventions for each level, and the format changes depending on whether you are writing inside a FAR-related document or outside one such as a legal brief, protest, or policy memo.1eCFR. Federal Acquisition Regulation 1.105-2 Using 9.106-4(d):

  • Part: “FAR part 9” outside the FAR; “part 9” within it.
  • Subpart: “FAR subpart 9.1” outside; “subpart 9.1” within.
  • Section: “FAR 9.106” outside; “9.106” within.
  • Subsection: “FAR 9.106-4” outside; “9.106-4” within.
  • Paragraph: “FAR 9.106-4(d)” outside; “9.106-4(d)” within.

The words “part” and “subpart” stay in the citation at those two levels. At the section level and below, drop the label and write “FAR” followed by the number. This is what most government practitioners use in memos, protests, and contract documents.

Citing Clauses and Provisions in Part 52

Clauses (which go into contracts) and provisions (which go into solicitations) sit in FAR Part 52 and follow their own numbering logic. Every clause and provision number begins with “52.2,” and the next two digits map to the FAR part where the clause is prescribed.3eCFR. 48 CFR Part 52 — Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses A hyphen and a sequential number complete the citation.

FAR 52.203-3 is the Gratuities clause.4Acquisition.GOV. 52.203-3 Gratuities The “52.2” marks it as a clause or provision, “03” points to FAR Part 3 (Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of Interest), and “3” is the sequential number within that group. When you cite a clause, include the number and the title: “FAR 52.203-3, Gratuities.” The title helps readers find the clause quickly in solicitations that incorporate dozens of them by reference.

Citing Agency Supplements

The FAR is the baseline. Individual agencies publish supplements that implement or add to it, and each mirrors the FAR’s numbering but prefixes the part number with a code identifying the agency.

The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) is codified at 48 CFR Chapter 2.5eCFR. 48 CFR Chapter 2 — Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense Its prefix is “2,” so FAR Part 19 (Small Business Programs) becomes DFARS Part 219. A supplemental section with no direct FAR counterpart gets a number starting at 70. DFARS 219.501-70 supplements FAR 19.501.6eCFR. 48 CFR Part 201 — Federal Acquisition Regulations System Component-level supplements within the Department of Defense use 90 and up instead of 70.

NASA’s supplement (NFS) works the same way: implementing text keeps the FAR number it implements, and supplemental text adds a number starting at 70.7eCFR. 48 CFR Part 1801 — Federal Acquisition Regulations System The General Services Administration’s manual (GSAM/R) is organized starting at Part 501. Use the abbreviation the agency uses: “DFARS 219.501-70,” “NFS 1801.105-370,” or “GSAM 501.101.”

Formal CFR Citation for Legal Writing

In legal briefs, court filings, and academic writing, the “FAR” shorthand usually will not do. The Bluebook and similar manuals require the full CFR format: the title number, “C.F.R.,” the section symbol, the section number, and the year of the CFR edition in parentheses.8Legal Information Institute (LII). 2-400. How to Cite Regulations, Other Agency and Executive Material

The FAR lives in Title 48, so a formal citation reads:

48 C.F.R. § 9.106-4 (2025)

The year is the CFR edition, not the year the provision was originally enacted. For a provision that has been amended or revoked, include the year to pin the reference to the version you mean. For provisions still in effect and unchanged, some practitioners omit the year, but including it is the safer choice, especially in litigation.

Pinning a Citation to a Specific FAR Version

The FAR is updated through Federal Acquisition Circulars (FACs). Each FAC bundles rulemaking changes under a single effective date. FAC 2026-01 took effect March 13, 2026, and updated trade agreement thresholds.9Federal Register. Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01; Introduction If your citation has to reflect a particular version, such as the version in effect on the date a contract was awarded, you have three options:

  • Use the year in the formal citation: “48 C.F.R. § 15.304 (2024).”
  • Identify the FAC that introduced the change: “FAR 25.402, as amended by FAC 2026-01.”
  • For very precise pinning, cite the Federal Register notice that published the final rule.

Most day-to-day procurement work cites the current FAR without a date, and everyone understands you mean the version in effect now. Version pinning matters most in bid protests, contract disputes, and legal analysis where the applicable regulation may have changed between solicitation and adjudication.

Where to Find the Official Text

The FAR is codified in Title 48, Chapter 1, of the Code of Federal Regulations.10eCFR. 48 CFR Chapter 1 — Federal Acquisition Regulation Three official online sources carry the current text:

  • Acquisition.gov, the GSA-maintained site with a searchable interface most practitioners open first.11Acquisition.GOV. Acquisition.GOV: Home
  • eCFR (ecfr.gov), the electronic Code of Federal Regulations, updated daily, which carries the FAR and all other Title 48 regulations.
  • GovInfo (govinfo.gov), the Government Publishing Office’s platform, useful for annual CFR print editions and the Federal Register notices tied to specific FAC updates.

Acquisition.gov also hosts DFARS and several civilian agency supplements; eCFR carries all supplements codified in Title 48. When you need to be sure you are reading the most current version, check the “current as of” date on whichever site you are using.