Acquisition

Learn about how to acquire supplies and services.

Federal acquisition is governed by a complex web of laws, regulations, and policies. It can lead to the selection of qualified vendors who deliver the best value for the government and the public — reducing risk and wasteful spending, and improving outcomes for the public.

Federal Acquisition Regulation

Federal Acquisition Regulation

Resources on Acquisition

  • TechFAR Hub

    Understand how to buy, build, and deliver modern digital services while staying on the correct side of compliance with the TechFAR Hub.

  • Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

    The primary regulation for use by all executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds. The FAR also contains standard solicitation provisions and contract clauses and the various agency FAR supplements.

  • Find Your Section 508 Program Manager

    Agency Section 508 Program Managers (PMs) are your first point of contact for questions about IT accessibility.

  • Tabular Comparison of the Previous FAR Text Against the 2021 Update

    These FAR Council updates are effective as of September 10, 2021.

  • Accessibility Requirements Tool (ART)

    ART is a multifaceted tool that offers interactive, step-by-step guidance on how to determine applicable accessibility requirements.

  • Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 39.2 - Information and Communication Technology

    This subpart implements section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794 d), and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board’s (U.S. Access Board) information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194.1.

  • Cloud Smart: Federal Cloud Computing Strategy

    Founded on three key pillars of successful cloud adoption—security, procurement, and workforce—the Cloud Smart strategy includes 11 action items from the Chief Information Officers (CIO) Council.

  • 18F De-risking Guides

    The Federal Field Guide to De-risk Government Technology offers guidance to federal agencies on how to structure software development teams, write contracts, and oversee agile software activities to reduce risks and improve outcomes for end-users.

Join a Community of Practice

  • TechAcq

    IT acquisitions are at the heart of federal IT modernization efforts. They support agencies in delivering modern, digital services to the public more effectively and efficiently.

  • Federal Technology Investment Management

    We share best practices and lessons learned to improve IT cost transparency across government.

Acquisition events

Annual Gathering

Spring 2024 Community Summit

Digital service experts across the federal government will share case studies and best practices on delivering a digital-first public experience.
2024

Acquisition news

GSA debuts new search tool to support Native governments and businesses

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) debuted a new search tool that enables buyers to search for Native business categories in GSA Advantage!, GSA eBuy, and GSA eLibrary for commercial products and services. Tribal governments are limited in their ability to generate traditional government revenues because of their unique federal status, and the income from Tribal businesses is an important source of development for these communities. This new feature will help Native businesses be visible in a diverse range of channels where they can sell products and services.— via General Services Administration

gsa logo
Jul 05, 2023

C-SCRM Acquisition Community of Practice (ACoP) Interact Site

C-SCRM Acquisition Community of Practice (ACoP) Interact Site—Since the launch of the Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) Acquisition Community of Practice (ACoP), GSA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have been co-leading an effort to broaden the level of awareness and develop agency maturity in the areas of acquisitions, supply chain risk management, and cybersecurity across the federal government for information communication technology and services (ICTS). To increase C-SCRM awareness and adoption government-wide, the C-SCRM ACoP launched an online collaborative space for the federal government’s IT community and industry to share best practices, ideas, guidance, tools, and expertise needed to implement C-SCRM requirements. Working together as a community and sharing information will help us improve our cybersecurity posture across all levels of government.— via General Services Administration

gsa logo
Jun 30, 2022
IT Modernization

Technology-boosting TMF Investments Deliver Benefits for the American Public

The Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) is working to transform the way the government uses technology to deliver for the American public in an equitable, secure and user-friendly way. It strategically invests in priority IT modernization projects that are aligned with the fast pace of changing technology and agency needs. Here are a few examples of how the TMF has invested in multiple projects that are helping many agencies deliver what people need when they need.

May 23, 2022

Resources on Acquisition

  • TechFAR Hub

    Understand how to buy, build, and deliver modern digital services while staying on the correct side of compliance with the TechFAR Hub.

  • Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

    The primary regulation for use by all executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds. The FAR also contains standard solicitation provisions and contract clauses and the various agency FAR supplements.

  • Find Your Section 508 Program Manager

    Agency Section 508 Program Managers (PMs) are your first point of contact for questions about IT accessibility.

  • Tabular Comparison of the Previous FAR Text Against the 2021 Update

    These FAR Council updates are effective as of September 10, 2021.

  • Accessibility Requirements Tool (ART)

    ART is a multifaceted tool that offers interactive, step-by-step guidance on how to determine applicable accessibility requirements.

  • Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 39.2 - Information and Communication Technology

    This subpart implements section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794 d), and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board’s (U.S. Access Board) information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194.1.

  • Cloud Smart: Federal Cloud Computing Strategy

    Founded on three key pillars of successful cloud adoption—security, procurement, and workforce—the Cloud Smart strategy includes 11 action items from the Chief Information Officers (CIO) Council.

  • 18F De-risking Guides

    The Federal Field Guide to De-risk Government Technology offers guidance to federal agencies on how to structure software development teams, write contracts, and oversee agile software activities to reduce risks and improve outcomes for end-users.

More News and Events on Acquisition

27 posts

Annual Gathering

Spring 2024 Community Summit

Digital service experts across the federal government will share case studies and best practices on delivering a digital-first public experience.
2024

GSA debuts new search tool to support Native governments and businesses

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) debuted a new search tool that enables buyers to search for Native business categories in GSA Advantage!, GSA eBuy, and GSA eLibrary for commercial products and services. Tribal governments are limited in their ability to generate traditional government revenues because of their unique federal status, and the income from Tribal businesses is an important source of development for these communities. This new feature will help Native businesses be visible in a diverse range of channels where they can sell products and services.— via General Services Administration

gsa logo
Jul 05, 2023

C-SCRM Acquisition Community of Practice (ACoP) Interact Site

C-SCRM Acquisition Community of Practice (ACoP) Interact Site—Since the launch of the Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) Acquisition Community of Practice (ACoP), GSA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have been co-leading an effort to broaden the level of awareness and develop agency maturity in the areas of acquisitions, supply chain risk management, and cybersecurity across the federal government for information communication technology and services (ICTS). To increase C-SCRM awareness and adoption government-wide, the C-SCRM ACoP launched an online collaborative space for the federal government’s IT community and industry to share best practices, ideas, guidance, tools, and expertise needed to implement C-SCRM requirements. Working together as a community and sharing information will help us improve our cybersecurity posture across all levels of government.— via General Services Administration

gsa logo
Jun 30, 2022
IT Modernization

Technology-boosting TMF Investments Deliver Benefits for the American Public

The Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) is working to transform the way the government uses technology to deliver for the American public in an equitable, secure and user-friendly way. It strategically invests in priority IT modernization projects that are aligned with the fast pace of changing technology and agency needs. Here are a few examples of how the TMF has invested in multiple projects that are helping many agencies deliver what people need when they need.

May 23, 2022

Improving Acquisition Governmentwide: IT and Professional Services

Improving Acquisition Governmentwide: IT and Professional Services—We are excited to share some updates about how our portfolios are collaborating to improve governmentwide services acquisition. This year we are taking our partnership a step further through a new focus area called the Services Marketplace. Information Technology Category (ITC) and Professional Services and Human Capital Categories (PSHC) are working together to align how we roll out new contracts and tools to support buyers and suppliers of services. See what’s new, what we’re working on, and our three primary goals.— via General Services Administration

gsa logo
Feb 17, 2022

FAR Updated To Add Revised Section 508 Standards for Information and Communication Technology

FAR Updated To Add Revised Section 508 Standards for Information and Communication Technology—On January 18, 2017, the U.S. Access Board issued a final rule (the Revised 508 Standards) that updated accessibility requirements covered by Section 508 for Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Read more about the final FAR rule update and changes effective as of September 10, 2021.— via Section508.gov

gsa logo
Nov 02, 2021

A Federal Guide to De-risk Government Technology Projects

A Federal Guide to De-risk Government Technology Projects—Written for cross-functional teams delivering IT services to their users, the Federal Field Guide to De-risk Government Technology offers guidance to federal agencies on how to structure software development teams, write contracts, and oversee agile software activities to reduce risks and improve outcomes for end-users.— via 18F

18f logo
Sep 09, 2020

The Data Briefing: Finding the New Federal Government Technologists

This week, I want to briefly discuss the human resources challenges in finding the new IT technology workers for the government. As agencies move toward microservices, artificial intelligence chatbots, and deep learning application programming interfaces (APIs), the demand for experts in these fields continues to grow fast. The universities and professional development programs are not

Mar 08, 2017

Health IT Services SIN — Ready to Serve Agencies

This summer I announced the the release of our new Health IT Services Special Item Number (SIN 132–56) on IT Schedule 70. Now, I am happy to report that the SIN has been awarded to 65 highly qualified industry partners — with that number continuing to grow daily as new contracts are being awarded. With such a

Nov 29, 2016

Transforming the Federal Marketplace, Two Years In

Summary: It’s been two years since we laid out the Administration’s plan to transform the Federal marketplace. Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished, and what’s next. Over the last two years, we’ve focused on our mission to implement the President’s vision for a modern government– one that leverages private-sector best practices to achieve a

Oct 11, 2016