Defense Acquisition Regulation (DAR)
The Defense Acquisition Regulation (DAR) was the primary regulatory framework governing procurement by the U.S. Department of Defense prior to the establishment of the government-wide acquisition system in 1984. DAR served as the DoD's acquisition rulebook before it was replaced by the modern federal procurement structure built around the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
What Was the Defense Acquisition Regulation?
The Defense Acquisition Regulation (DAR) was the primary regulatory framework governing procurement by the U.S. Department of Defense prior to the establishment of the government-wide acquisition system in 1984.
DAR served as the DoD's acquisition rulebook before it was replaced by the modern federal procurement structure built around the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
Historical Context
Before 1984, federal agencies operated under separate procurement regulations. The DoD used DAR, while civilian agencies followed the Federal Procurement Regulations (FPR).
In 1984, the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) helped drive consolidation and standardization of acquisition rules, leading to the creation of the FAR — a unified acquisition regulation applicable across federal agencies. DAR was formally phased out and integrated into FAR.
Core Elements of DAR
Procurement Procedures: DAR defined processes for solicitation issuance, bid evaluation, contract award, and post-award administration.
Contract Types: DAR addressed use of fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, incentive, and time-and-materials contracts — structures that remain central under FAR.
Ethical and Compliance Standards: DAR emphasized fair competition, conflict of interest restrictions, documentation requirements, and cost accountability.
Documentation and Oversight: DAR required structured recordkeeping to ensure auditability and transparency in defense acquisitions.
Transition to the FAR System
When FAR was implemented in 1984, DAR provisions were largely absorbed into FAR. DoD-specific supplements were later established under the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and standardization improved interagency consistency.
Today, FAR provides government-wide acquisition rules, while DFARS adds DoD-specific policies layered on top.
Why DAR Still Matters for Contractors
Even though DAR is obsolete, understanding it helps contractors appreciate the evolution of federal procurement policy, recognize why certain FAR provisions exist, and interpret legacy contract references in older agreements. Many older defense programs and historical contract disputes reference DAR provisions.
Common Misconceptions About DAR
DAR is still used in defense contracting.
DAR was replaced when FAR became effective in 1984 and is no longer an active regulatory framework.
FAR and DAR are unrelated.
Many FAR principles evolved directly from DAR practices and foundational acquisition concepts.
Understanding DAR is unnecessary.
While not required for day-to-day compliance, understanding DAR provides historical insight into procurement reform and regulatory structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DAR still in effect?
No. DAR was replaced by the Federal Acquisition Regulation in 1984 and is no longer active.
Why do some legacy contracts reference DAR?
Older defense programs and historical contract disputes may reference DAR clauses that were in effect at the time of award.
What replaced DAR for DoD-specific requirements?
The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) provides DoD-specific procurement rules layered on top of FAR.
What regulation should active contractors focus on?
Active contractors should focus on FAR for government-wide requirements and DFARS for defense-specific compliance obligations.
Related Government Contracting Topics
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): The government-wide acquisition regulation that replaced DAR and now serves as the baseline for all federal procurement.
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS): DoD-specific supplement to FAR that carries forward defense acquisition requirements.
Competition in Contracting Act (CICA): 1984 legislation that drove consolidation of federal acquisition regulations and led to the creation of FAR.
Contract Types in Federal Procurement: Fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, incentive, and other contract structures that originated under DAR and continue under FAR.
Evolution of Acquisition Reform: The ongoing process of modernizing federal procurement policy, of which the DAR-to-FAR transition was a foundational step.