FAR 1.501—Solicitation of agency and public views.

Definition.

FAR 1.501-1 defines the phrase “significant revisions” for use in Subpart 1.5, which governs publicizing and reviewing proposed changes to the FAR System. This definition matters because it determines when a change is important enough to trigger the more formal notice-and-comment and coordination processes associated with substantive FAR revisions. The section focuses on two core ideas: whether a revision changes the substantive meaning of FAR coverage, and whether that change has a significant cost or administrative impact on contractors or offerors, or a significant effect beyond the issuing agency’s internal operating procedures. It also draws a clear line between major policy changes and non-substantive edits such as editorial, stylistic, or other wording changes that do not alter the meaning of the rule. In practice, this definition helps agencies decide which revisions require broader review and public participation, and it helps contractors understand when a FAR change may affect bidding, compliance, pricing, or administration.

Opportunity for public comments.

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.

Exceptions.

FAR 1.501-3 explains when the normal advance public comment process for proposed FAR coverage does not apply. It covers two exceptions: first, when a proposed change is not a significant revision, and second, when urgent and compelling circumstances make it impracticable to seek comments before the coverage becomes effective. The section is designed to preserve the public participation process for meaningful regulatory changes while allowing the government to act quickly when delay would be impractical, such as to implement a new statute on a short timeline. In practice, this means agencies and acquisition officials must judge whether a change is substantial enough to warrant advance comment, and if not, they may proceed without it. When urgency justifies skipping advance comments, the rule still requires a temporary issuance and a minimum 30-day public comment period after issuance, so the public still has an opportunity to respond. This section is important because it balances transparency and participation against the need for timely regulatory action.