FAR 52.211-15—Defense Priority and Allocation Requirements.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.211-15 is a short but important clause used when a contract action is a "rated order" under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS). It tells the contractor that the order has been certified for national defense, emergency preparedness, or energy program use, and that the contractor must comply with the DPAS regulation at 15 CFR part 700. In practice, this means the contract is not just a normal commercial or federal order: it carries priority status that can affect how the contractor schedules work, accepts or rejects orders, allocates materials, and manages subcontractors and suppliers. The clause ties the procurement to the broader statutory and regulatory priority system used to ensure critical government and defense-related needs are met ahead of lower-priority work. It also signals that the contractor must understand and follow the specific DPAS rules on acceptance, performance, flowdown, and recordkeeping, because failure to do so can create serious compliance and performance problems. This section therefore covers the clause’s purpose, the meaning of a rated order, the contractor’s obligation to follow DPAS, and the practical consequences of priority-rated procurement.
Key Rules
Rated order status
The clause states that the contract is a rated order. That means it receives priority treatment under DPAS and must be handled according to the applicable priority rating rules rather than as an ordinary order.
Certified national defense use
The order is certified for national defense, emergency preparedness, or energy program use. This certification is the basis for applying DPAS priority procedures and indicates the government has determined the requirement fits one of the authorized priority categories.
DPAS compliance required
The contractor must follow all requirements of 15 CFR part 700. This includes the rules on accepting rated orders, scheduling performance, placing priority on rated work, and handling conflicts with unrated work.
Priority over lower-rated work
A rated order generally takes precedence over unrated orders and, depending on the rating, may also take precedence over lower-rated orders. Contractors must manage production and procurement so the rated order is supported in accordance with the regulation.
Flowdown to suppliers
Because DPAS obligations affect the supply chain, the contractor may need to place rated orders with subcontractors and suppliers and ensure those parties understand and honor the priority rating. The contractor remains responsible for proper use of the rating.
Regulatory, not discretionary, obligation
The clause does not merely authorize priority treatment; it requires compliance with the DPAS framework. Contractors cannot ignore the rating or treat it as optional when it conflicts with internal scheduling or commercial commitments.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Insert the clause when the acquisition is properly designated as a rated order under the applicable prescription. Ensure the contract reflects the correct priority rating and that the requirement is used only when authorized.
Contractor
Recognize the order as rated, comply with all DPAS requirements in 15 CFR part 700, prioritize performance and procurement accordingly, and manage any supplier or subcontractor actions needed to support the rated order.
Subcontractors and Suppliers
When properly flowed down a rated order, give it the priority treatment required by DPAS and perform in accordance with the rating and applicable regulatory rules.
Agency/Program Office
Determine whether the requirement qualifies for priority treatment, coordinate the need for the rating, and support proper use of the DPAS authority for national defense, emergency preparedness, or energy program purposes.
Practical Implications
This clause can change scheduling and sourcing decisions immediately, because rated work may have to be moved ahead of unrated commercial or government work.
A common pitfall is failing to recognize that the clause brings in the full DPAS rule set at 15 CFR part 700; the clause itself is brief, but the compliance burden is broader.
Contractors should verify the rating, understand whether it is a DX or DO rating if applicable under DPAS, and train purchasing and production staff to handle it correctly.
Improperly using or ignoring a rated order can create delivery delays, supplier disputes, and potential regulatory noncompliance.
Contracting officers should use the clause only when the order is actually authorized for priority treatment, because misapplication can distort contractor operations and create avoidable compliance issues.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 11.604 (b) , insert the following clause: Defense Priority and Allocation Requirement (Apr 2008) This is a rated order certified for national defense, emergency preparedness, and energy program use, and the Contractor shall follow all the requirements of the Defense Priorities and Allocations System regulation (15 CFR 700). (End of clause)