FAR 27.001—Definition.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 27.001 provides a single, scope-setting definition for the term “United States” as used in FAR Part 27. It specifies that, for this part, the term includes the 50 States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and possessions, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands. This definition matters because Part 27 addresses patents, data rights, copyrights, and other intellectual property-related issues in federal contracting, and the geographic meaning of “United States” can affect where rights, protections, obligations, and compliance requirements apply. In practice, this definition prevents confusion about whether Part 27 rules extend beyond the continental states and ensures contractors and contracting officers apply the part consistently across all covered U.S. jurisdictions. It is a definitional provision only, but it is important because it controls interpretation of the rest of Part 27 whenever the term is used.
Key Rules
United States has a fixed meaning
For purposes of FAR Part 27, “United States” is not limited to the 50 States. It also includes the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and possessions, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Definition applies only to this part
This definition is expressly limited to “as used in this part,” meaning it governs interpretation of FAR Part 27 and does not automatically control other FAR parts unless they adopt the same definition.
Geographic scope includes territories
The rule makes clear that federal intellectual property and related requirements in Part 27 apply across all listed U.S. jurisdictions, not just within the states. This avoids gaps in coverage for work performed or rights arising in U.S. territories and possessions.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Apply the Part 27 definition of “United States” when drafting, interpreting, and administering contracts that involve patents, data rights, copyrights, or other Part 27 matters. Ensure solicitations and contract clauses are read with the correct geographic scope in mind.
Contractor
Understand that Part 27 obligations may apply in all listed U.S. jurisdictions, including territories and possessions. Do not assume that work performed outside the 50 States is outside the reach of Part 27 requirements.
Agency
Use the Part 27 definition consistently in policy, clause selection, and contract administration so that intellectual property-related rights and obligations are applied uniformly across covered jurisdictions.
Practical Implications
Contractors working in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or other U.S. territories should treat Part 27 requirements as applicable unless another rule says otherwise.
A common mistake is assuming “United States” means only the 50 States; under this part, that narrower reading is incorrect.
Because this is a definition section, it does not create substantive rights by itself, but it controls how the rest of Part 27 is interpreted and enforced.
Contracting officers should be careful when evaluating where contract performance, invention development, or data creation occurs, since the geographic scope can affect how Part 27 provisions are applied.
When in doubt, parties should read the definition together with the specific patent, data rights, or copyright clause at issue, since the clause may impose additional or different requirements.
Official Regulatory Text
United States , as used in this part, means the 50 States and the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and possessions, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands.