30 days to shape the biggest FAR overhaul in 40 years

Sharpen your pens and pencils industry, because the clock is ticking on the comment period for the proposed new Federal Acquisition Regulation rules released on Tuesday.

While we reported their pre-release, the specific end date for the 30-day comment period was left blank.

But based on the June 23 publish date, comments are due July 23.

The 30-day comment period is the bare minimum set in the Administrative Procedure Act.

In going with 30 days, the government also is going against recommendations sent out in Executive Order 12866 that  President Bill Clinton signed in 1993. That order was amended and expanded by subsequent presidents, including President Trump during his first and second terms.

The 1993 order recommends a comment period of at least 60 days for “significant regulatory actions.” Given its scope, the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul qualifies as such.

The proposed rules touch essentially every aspect of federal contracting as 21 different parts of the FAR are being amended in this first group.

Industry can request an extension. But with eight more proposed rules in the works, the FAR Council may be reluctant to issue an extension. The council also wants to adopt the rules before the end of the year.

The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul started off at a breakneck speed, with the General Services Administration issuing 49 master deviations during 2025. Phase one was completed before the end of federal fiscal year 2025.

Expectations were that these draft rules would come out early in calendar 2026, but they were delayed as the Office of Management and Budget reviewed the proposed rules.

The next set of proposed rules likely will also come with a 30-day comment period. The most significant of these proposed rules is Part 19, which governs small business contracting.