Review the official rules and regulations involved in contracts based on your role.
Resources for Offerors
Helpful links to information about the rules and regulations that apply to contractors when applying for an award or managing an award.
| Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) | Find any general and permanent rules by any Federal department or agency |
| Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) | Describes the uniform policies and procedures for all Federal acquisitions |
| U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Legal Decisions | Provides all legal decisions stemming from federal bid protests, appropriations law, and other legal matters |
| Principles of Federal Appropriations Law (Red Book) | GAO's treatise on federal fiscal law |
| HHS Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR) | Describes rules for Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) acquisitions that differ from the FAR (see above). The FAR is the overall governing set of regulations, and the HHSAR discusses more stringent or additional policies that apply to HHS that may or may not also be covered in the FAR. |
| NIH Efficient Spending Policy | Describes NIH-specific policies and procedures for spending. Many rules apply to contractors while performing work on an NIH contract. |
| NIH Office of Extramural Research Policy & Compliance | Describes standards to which we hold our grantees and contractors on R&D contracts |
| Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) | Describes human research protections that apply to all NIH contracts conducting human subjects research. |
| NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare | Describes animal research protections that apply to all NIH contracts conducting animal research. |
| Federal Travel Regulation | These rules and regulations apply to contractors if they are traveling on official business related to their contract |
| Per Diem Rates | Helpful for planning travel costs if putting together a proposal |
Assistance for Small Businesses
Helpful links for understanding Small Business categories, registration, and certification and how it affects contract competitions.
Resources for NIH Staff
Useful sites if you are writing a procurement package and need guidance on forms, relevant clauses, or current procedures.
| Federal Register | Provides all current and proposed rules by all Federal departments and agencies |
| Office of Federal Procurement Policy | This office sets procurement policies for all Federal departments and agencies |
| Where in Federal Contracting | UNOFFICIAL site aggregating news and resources about Federal contracting |
| Contract Tool Box | Aggregates newsletters and other resources sent out by OALM and other official contracting policy groups |
| OMB Circulars | Most helpful for NIH staff looking for more direction about new policies announced by OMB |
| NIH Manual Chapters | Helpful for NIH staff managing contracts and active contractors looking for rules and regulations around specific activities (e.g., use of logos, COVID policies, etc.) |
| HHS Acquisition Policy, Guidance, and Instructions (PGI) | Additional guidance on HHS-specific acquisition policies and procedures |
| HHS Technology Transfer Policies and Procedures Manual | Helpful information for policies that apply to contracts that will assist with bringing products to the marketplace or to a clinical setting |
| Division of Acquisition Policy and Evaluation (DAPE) | Provides guidance on acquisition policy and how acquisitions are evaluated pre-award. Large awards must be reviewed by DAPE. |
| Division of Simplified Acquisition Policy and Services (DSAPS) | Simplified acquisitions are those costing $250,000 or less across the entire life of the acquisition. This site provides assistance with simplified acquisition procedures. |
| Document Generation System (DGS) | Provides forms and text for contract clauses that COs can use in completing contract awards or modifications. |
| Acquisition Resources | Provides many resources for development of procurement packages and award management |
| FAR Part 31—Contract Cost Principles and Procedures | Describes how cost principles are to be applied in awarding and managing contracts |
| Title 2 CFR, Grants and Agreements | Subpart E describes overarching cost principles that apply to grants and contracts |
| Title 45 CFR 75, Subpart F Appendix, Principles for Determining Costs Applicable to Research and Development Under Grants and Contracts With Hospitals | Cost rules specific to R&D contracts or grants involving hospitals |
| Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) | Has all acquisition related information and links, useful for Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs) and Contracting Officers (COs) |
| Federal Acquisition Certificate in Contracting (FAC-C) | Describes training and experience required to become a CO. Send FAC-C questions to FAC-C@mail.nih.gov |
| Federal Acquisition Certification for CORs (FAC-COR) | Describes training and experience required to become a COR. Send FAC-COR quesitons to FAC-COR@mail.nih.gov |
| Acquisition Career Program (ACP) | Helpful tools for managing your career as an acquisition professional |
| Defense Acquisition University | Provides courses required for initial certification and recertification of CORs, COs, and Program Managers |
| Learning Management System | Provides HHS-specific courses required for certification for CORs, COs, and Program Managers |
| Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) | Central hub for submitting and finding contractor performance ratings. |