BLUF: The FAR Council proposed sweeping rules revising FAR Parts 8, 12, 13, 15, 38, 44, and 51 under Executive Order 14275, with comments due October 19, 2026.

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) — together the FAR Council — published a proposed rule on September 18, 2026, to implement Executive Order 14275, "Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement." The rule is one of twelve proposed rules the Council says will collectively streamline the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Why it matters: This proposed rule touches acquisition mechanics contractors rely on daily: Part 8 (required sources), Part 12 (commercial items), Part 13 (simplified acquisition), Part 15 (contracting by negotiation), Part 38 (federal supply schedules), Part 44 (subcontracting policy), and Part 51 (use of government sources by contractors). Because the stated goal is eliminating "excessive acquisition regulations," contractors should expect procedural changes across sourcing, negotiation, and subcontracting once the twelve-rule package is finalized — the specific changes within each part are not detailed in the Federal Register abstract and require review of the full proposed text.

By the numbers:

• Docket No.: FAR-2026-0003 (FAR Case 2026-003)
• RIN: 9000-AO88
• Published: September 18, 2026
• Comment period closes: October 19, 2026
• Implementing: Executive Order 14275

The FAR Council frames this as the first of twelve coordinated proposed rules overhauling the FAR in its entirety, issued in response to the executive order's directive to reduce acquisition-regulation burden. The Federal Register notice does not specify effective dates for the changes, since the rule remains in the proposed stage pending the comment period above.

Source: Federal Register