48 CFR § 246.402 - 246.402 Government contract quality assurance at source.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t48/s246.402"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "48 CFR § 246.402 - 246.402   Government contract quality assurance at source."
title_number: 48
title_name: "Federal Acquisition Regulations System"
section_number: "246.402"
section_name: "246.402   Government contract quality assurance at source."
chapter_number: 2
chapter_name: "DEFENSE ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE"
subchapter_number: "G"
subchapter_name: "CONTRACT MANAGEMENT"
part_number: "246"
part_name: "QUALITY ASSURANCE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "41 U.S.C. 1303 and 48 CFR chapter 1."
regulatory_source: "56 FR 36460, July 31, 1991, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "246"
---


# 246.402 246.402   Government contract quality assurance at source.

Do not require Government contract quality assurance at source for contracts or delivery orders valued below $400,000, unless—

(1) Mandated by DoD regulation;

(2) Required by a memorandum of agreement between the acquiring department or agency and the contract administration agency; or

(3) The contracting officer determines that—

(i) Contract technical requirements are significant (*e.g.*, the technical requirements include drawings, test procedures, or performance requirements);

(ii) The product being acquired—

(A) Has critical characteristics;

(B) Has specific features identified that make Government contract quality assurance at source necessary; or

(C) Has specific acquisition concerns identified that make Government contract quality assurance at source necessary; and

(iii) The contract is being awarded to—

(A) A manufacturer or producer; or

(B) A non-manufacturer or non-producer and specific Government verifications have been identified as necessary and feasible to perform.

[70 FR 8543, Feb. 22, 2005, as amended at 75 FR 45074, Aug. 2, 2010; 85 FR 61504, Sept. 29, 2020; 90 FR 41486, Aug. 25, 2025]