FAR 9.302—General.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 9.302 explains the basic purpose and decision framework for first article testing and approval, which the FAR refers to here as "testing and approval." This section covers when and why a contracting officer may require this quality-control step, what it is intended to prove, and the factors the contracting officer must weigh before imposing it. In practical terms, first article testing is used to reduce the Government’s risk that a contractor will deliver a product that does not meet contract requirements, but it can also add cost and delay to performance. The section therefore requires a balanced judgment: the contracting officer must consider the impact on cost and delivery schedule, the risk to the Government of not requiring the test, and whether less costly methods could achieve the same quality assurance objective. For contractors, this means first article requirements can materially affect pricing, production planning, and delivery timelines; for contracting officers, it means the requirement should be justified as a risk-management tool rather than used routinely or automatically.
Key Rules
Purpose is quality assurance
First article testing and approval is intended to ensure the contractor can furnish a product that conforms to all contract requirements before full production or acceptance proceeds. It is a preventive measure, not a substitute for normal inspection and acceptance procedures.
Consider cost and schedule impact
Before requiring testing and approval, the contracting officer must consider how the requirement will affect contract cost and delivery time. If the test will significantly increase price or delay delivery, that impact must be weighed against the benefit of the added assurance.
Assess Government risk
The contracting officer must evaluate the risk to the Government of not requiring the test. The more critical, complex, safety-related, or high-consequence the item is, the stronger the case for first article testing.
Use less costly alternatives when adequate
The contracting officer must consider whether other, less costly methods can provide the desired quality assurance. If another approach can reasonably protect the Government’s interests, first article testing should not be imposed unnecessarily.
Decision must be reasoned
The section requires a deliberate, fact-based decision rather than a routine clause insertion. The contracting officer should be able to explain why first article testing is necessary in light of the contract’s risk, cost, and schedule considerations.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Determine whether first article testing and approval is appropriate by weighing cost, delivery impact, Government risk, and available alternatives. Document the rationale for requiring the test when it is used as a quality assurance measure.
Contractor
If first article testing is required by the contract, plan for and perform the testing or submit the first article for approval as required, recognizing that this may affect pricing, production sequencing, and delivery commitments.
Agency
Support acquisition planning and quality assurance decisions by identifying when the Government’s risk justifies first article testing and by encouraging use of the least burdensome effective method to ensure product quality.
Practical Implications
First article testing can protect the Government from receiving nonconforming products, but it often adds upfront time and cost, so it should be reserved for situations where the risk justifies the burden.
Contracting officers should not treat first article testing as a default requirement; they should compare it with other quality controls such as inspection, testing of production items, supplier qualification, or past performance.
Contractors should review solicitations carefully because first article requirements can affect bid pricing, manufacturing lead times, subcontracting, and cash flow.
A common pitfall is failing to account for the schedule impact of testing and approval, which can delay start of production or final delivery if not planned early.
Another common issue is using first article testing even when the item is simple, low-risk, or already well-controlled by other methods, which can create unnecessary administrative burden without meaningful benefit.
Official Regulatory Text
First article testing and approval (hereafter referred to as testing and approval) ensures that the contractor can furnish a product that conforms to all contract requirements for acceptance. Before requiring testing and approval, the contracting officer shall consider the- (a) Impact on cost or time of delivery; (b) Risk to the Government of foregoing such test; and (c) Availability of other, less costly, methods of ensuring the desired quality.