FAR 1.105-1—Publication and code arrangement.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 1.105-1 explains how the Federal Acquisition Regulation is published and how it is organized within the Code of Federal Regulations. It covers three publication formats for the FAR: the daily Federal Register, the codified CFR, and the separate online edition on Acquisition.gov. It also explains that the FAR is Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the CFR, while later chapters are reserved for agency acquisition regulations that implement or supplement the FAR under subpart 1.3. Finally, it sets the numbering convention for codified agency acquisition regulations, requiring each numbered unit or segment to begin with the assigned chapter number, while making clear that the FAR itself does not include its chapter number in its internal numbering. In practice, this section matters because it tells users where to find the authoritative text, how to cite and navigate the FAR, and how to distinguish the FAR from agency-specific supplements such as the DFARS, GSAR, or HHSAR.
Key Rules
FAR publication sources
The FAR is published in three places: the daily Federal Register, the cumulative CFR, and the separate electronic edition on Acquisition.gov. This gives users multiple official ways to access current and codified FAR text.
FAR is Chapter 1
The FAR is issued as Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the CFR. This chapter designation establishes the FAR as the base governmentwide acquisition regulation set.
Agency chapters follow FAR
Subsequent CFR chapters are reserved for agency acquisition regulations that implement or supplement the FAR. Those agency regulations are addressed in subpart 1.3, and the CFR Staff assigns chapter numbers to agencies that request them.
Chapter number in agency numbering
When an agency acquisition regulation is codified in the CFR, each numbered unit or segment—such as a part, subpart, or section—must begin with the chapter number. This helps identify the issuing agency and keeps the regulation structure consistent.
FAR numbering excludes chapter number
The FAR’s own numbered units do not include the chapter number assigned to Title 48, Chapter 1. Users cite and read FAR provisions by their FAR numbering alone, not by adding a chapter prefix.
Responsibilities
CFR Staff
Assign chapter numbers to agencies that request them for codified acquisition regulations in Title 48.
Agencies
Use assigned chapter numbers for their acquisition regulations when codifying them in the CFR and ensure those regulations implement or supplement the FAR as authorized.
Contracting Officers
Use the correct source and numbering when researching, citing, or applying FAR and agency supplement provisions, and distinguish FAR text from agency-specific regulations.
Contractors
Consult the correct publication source and chapter structure to identify whether a requirement comes from the FAR or from an agency supplement that may add to or modify FAR requirements.
Practical Implications
This section is mainly about navigation and citation, but it is essential for finding the controlling text quickly and accurately.
A common pitfall is confusing the FAR with agency supplements; the chapter number tells you whether a rule is governmentwide or agency-specific.
When reading codified agency regulations, the chapter number at the start of the numbering helps identify the issuing agency and prevents mis-citation.
Users should remember that the online Acquisition.gov edition is a separate edition of the FAR, but the Federal Register and CFR remain important publication sources.
For day-to-day work, this section helps contracting personnel verify whether they are applying the base FAR rule or an agency supplement layered on top of it.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) The FAR is published in— (1) The daily issue of the Federal Register ; (2) Cumulated form in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR); and (3) A separate edition available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far . (b) The FAR is issued as Chapter 1 of Title 48, CFR. Subsequent chapters are reserved for agency acquisition regulations that implement or supplement the FAR (see subpart 1.3 ). The CFR Staff will assign chapter numbers to requesting agencies. (c) Each numbered unit or segment ( e.g., part, subpart, section, etc.) of an agency acquisition regulation that is codified in the CFR shall begin with the chapter number. However, the chapter number assigned to the FAR will not be included in the numbered units or segments of the FAR.