FAR 1.501-2—Opportunity for public comments.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 1.501-2 explains how the government gives the public a chance to comment on proposed significant revisions to the FAR and related acquisition policies and procedures. It covers three main topics: consideration of views from agencies and nongovernmental parties, the requirement to publish a Federal Register notice for proposed significant revisions, and the minimum comment period that must be provided. The section also specifies what information must be included in the notice, such as the text or summary of the revision, contact information for obtaining the full text and submitting comments, and, when applicable, a statement that the revision is temporarily effective under FAR 1.501-3(b). In practice, this section is the public participation mechanism for major acquisition policy changes, helping ensure transparency, informed rulemaking, and a record of stakeholder input before finalizing revisions. For contracting officials, it is a procedural safeguard that helps prevent rushed or incomplete policy changes; for contractors and other interested parties, it is the formal opportunity to influence proposed changes before they become final.
Key Rules
Consider outside views
Agencies must consider the views of both other agencies and nongovernmental parties or organizations when formulating acquisition policies and procedures. This means public and interagency input is part of the policy-development process, not an afterthought.
Federal Register notice required
For proposed significant revisions, the opportunity to submit written comments must be provided by publishing a notice in the Federal Register. The notice is the official trigger for public participation.
Include the revision text or summary
Each notice must include the full text of the proposed revision, or if publishing the full text is impracticable, a summary of the proposal. The public must have enough information to understand what is being changed.
Provide contact information
The notice must identify the person from whom copies of the full-text revision may be requested and to whom comments should be sent, including an address and telephone number. This ensures commenters know where to obtain details and where to submit input.
State temporary effectiveness when applicable
If FAR 1.501-3(b) applies, the notice must state that the revision is effective on a temporary basis pending completion of the public comment period. This alerts the public that the change is already in effect but still open to comment.
Allow adequate comment time
A minimum of 30 days must be provided for comments, and the normal expectation is at least 60 days. Agencies should treat 60 days as the standard unless there is a reason to use the shorter minimum.
Responsibilities
Agency
Consider the views of other agencies and nongovernmental parties or organizations when developing acquisition policies and procedures, and ensure proposed significant revisions are properly noticed in the Federal Register with the required content and comment period.
Policy drafters / acquisition officials
Prepare the proposed revision or a summary, coordinate the notice package, identify the contact person for copies and comments, and ensure the notice accurately reflects whether temporary effectiveness applies.
Federal Register publication staff / responsible office
Publish the notice so the public has formal notice and a defined opportunity to comment on the proposed significant revision.
Interested public / contractors / organizations
Review the proposed revision or summary, request the full text if needed, and submit written comments within the stated comment period to the designated address.
Practical Implications
This section is the main public-comment gateway for significant FAR policy changes, so missing the Federal Register notice or shortening the comment period can create procedural defects.
If the full text is not published, the summary must still be clear enough for stakeholders to understand the proposed change; vague summaries can undermine meaningful comment.
The contact information in the notice matters operationally because commenters need a reliable way to obtain the full text and submit responses.
When a revision is temporarily effective under FAR 1.501-3(b), agencies must be careful to say so explicitly; otherwise the public may not understand the rule’s current status.
Contractors and trade associations should monitor Federal Register notices closely, because this is often the only formal chance to influence acquisition policy before it becomes final.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Views of agencies and nongovernmental parties or organizations will be considered in formulating acquisition policies and procedures. (b) The opportunity to submit written comments on proposed significant revisions shall be provided by placing a notice in the Federal Register . Each of these notices shall include- (1) The text of the revision or, if it is impracticable to publish the full text, a summary of the proposal; (2) The address and telephone number of the individual from whom copies of the revision, in full text, can be requested and to whom comments thereon should be addressed; and (3) When 1.501-3 (b) is applicable, a statement that the revision is effective on a temporary basis pending completion of the public comment period. (c) A minimum of 30 days and, normally, at least 60 days will be given for the receipt of comments.