25 CFR § 900.39 - What is the difference between a standard and a system?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t25/s900.39"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "25 CFR § 900.39 - What is the difference between a standard and a system?"
title_number: 25
title_name: "Indians"
section_number: "900.39"
section_name: "What is the difference between a standard and a system?"
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, AND INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
part_number: "900"
part_name: "CONTRACTS UNDER THE INDIAN SELF-DETERMINATION AND EDUCATION ASSISTANCE ACT"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "25 U.S.C. 450f"
regulatory_source: "61 FR 32501, June 24, 1996, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "900"
---


# 900.39 What is the difference between a standard and a system?

(a) Standards are the minimum baseline requirements for the performance of an activity. Standards establish the “what” that an activity should accomplish.

(b) Systems are the procedural mechanisms and processes for the day-to-day conduct of an activity. Systems are “how” the activity will be accomplished.