The Office of Federal Procurement Policy Launches Landmark Update to FAR, Ushering in a New Era for Commercial Buying

Office of Federal Procurement Policy Launches Landmark Update to FAR

Impact Score: 3.6

Timeline: Immediate implementation as of August 15, 2025

Summary: The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) underwent its most significant reform in 41 years through the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), focusing on deregulation, streamlined procedures, and enhanced commercial buying. Key changes include removing one-third of non-statutory contract requirements, retiring specific FAR parts, and introducing new implementation tools. This overhaul aims to improve efficiency, increase small business participation, and better align federal procurement with modern needs, impacting federal agencies, contractors, and institutions like Vanderbilt University, which must adapt procurement and research strategies accordingly.

Key Actions: Vanderbilt should monitor FAR updates, align procurement strategies, foster partnerships with innovative small businesses, develop educational programs on FAR changes, and assess impacts on research funding and compliance.