What's Happening?
The General Services Administration (GSA) has announced changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) as part of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) initiative, which will affect the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) website. The overhaul will streamline the registration process by removing procurement-specific and submission of offer certifications from SAM.gov, which will instead be included in individual solicitations and contracts. The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy are collaborating with the GSA Office of the Integrated Award Environment and the Procurement Committee for e-Government to assess these changes. The modifications are expected to be implemented by January 2026, with plans for system changes and timelines to be issued in the next fiscal year.
Why It's Important?
The RFO initiative is significant for both government and industry stakeholders involved in federal procurement. By moving procurement-specific certifications to individual solicitations, the registration process on SAM.gov will become more efficient, reducing the frequency of updates required from companies. This change is expected to enhance the accuracy and traceability of terms and conditions specific to each procurement, benefiting the government by ensuring more precise contract management. Industry participants will benefit from a streamlined process, potentially reducing administrative burdens and improving compliance with federal procurement requirements.
What's Next?
The FAR Council is set to release plans for system changes and implementation timelines, along with a list of impacted provisions, representations, certifications, and clauses. Contracting officers will need to adapt to these changes by using updated clauses and provisions as agency RFO deviations are issued. Companies may still be required to submit information that is no longer enforced until the changes are fully implemented.
