FAR 5.501—Definitions.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 5.501 provides the definitions that control how the advertising and publication requirements in this subpart are applied. It defines two key terms: “advertisement,” meaning a single message prepared for placement in communication media no matter how many times it is placed, and “publication,” meaning either placing an advertisement in a printed medium such as a newspaper, magazine, trade or professional journal, or broadcasting an advertisement over radio or television. These definitions matter because they determine what counts as an advertisement for purposes of the subpart and what kinds of media activity are treated as publication. In practice, contracting officers and contractors must use these definitions to decide whether a communication falls within the subpart’s coverage, especially when a message is reused across multiple outlets or formats. The section is short, but it is important because it prevents confusion over whether repeated placements create multiple advertisements and clarifies which media channels are included in publication.
Key Rules
Single message is one advertisement
An advertisement is the message itself, not each individual placement. If the same prepared message is placed in multiple outlets or multiple times, it is still treated as one advertisement for purposes of this subpart.
Publication includes print placement
Publication includes placing an advertisement in a newspaper, magazine, trade or professional journal, or any other printed medium. The rule is broad enough to cover similar print formats beyond the listed examples.
Publication includes broadcast media
Publication also includes broadcasting an advertisement over radio or television. If the message is aired through these channels, it is considered published under this subpart.
Media form controls coverage
Whether something is a publication depends on the medium used, not just the content of the message. The same advertisement may be published in print or broadcast, and the definition applies to both.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Apply these definitions when determining whether a communication or media placement falls within the subpart’s advertising and publication rules. Use the definitions to avoid counting repeated placements as separate advertisements unless another FAR provision requires a different treatment.
Contractor
Understand how the government is classifying advertisements and publications when preparing or placing messages related to a procurement. Ensure that media plans, invoices, and compliance actions reflect that one prepared message may be treated as a single advertisement even if placed multiple times.
Agency
Use the definitions consistently across procurement actions involving advertising or publication so that internal reviews, approvals, and compliance determinations are based on the same meaning of the terms.
Practical Implications
A single ad campaign may involve many placements but still count as one advertisement, so contractors should not assume each insertion creates a separate regulatory event.
The definition of publication is limited to print and broadcast media in this section, so other channels may require separate analysis under other FAR provisions or agency guidance.
Because the term includes “any other printed medium,” the rule is broad enough to capture newer or less common print formats that function like newspapers or journals.
Miscounting placements as separate advertisements can lead to incorrect compliance tracking, reporting, or cost treatment.
When in doubt, focus first on whether the communication is the prepared message and second on whether the medium is print or broadcast, since those are the controlling elements in this definition.
Official Regulatory Text
As used in this subpart- Advertisement means any single message prepared for placement in communication media, regardless of the number of placements. Publication means– (1) The placement of an advertisement in a newspaper, magazine, trade or professional journal, or any other printed medium; or (2) The broadcasting of an advertisement over radio or television.