The federal government is the largest buyer of goods and services in the world, and executive branch agencies—particularly the Department of Defense—make most of these purchases. Many (although not all) acquisitions by executive branch agencies are subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which can make the FAR a topic of interest to Members and committees of Congress and their staff. In particular, Members, committees, and staff may find themselves considering or drafting legislation that would prompt amendment of the FAR to save money, promote transparency, or further other public policies; conducting oversight of executive agencies' performance in procuring goods and services, including their compliance with the FAR; and responding to questions from constituents regarding executive branch procurement activities. In addition, in 2012, the Defense Business Board recommended "zero-bas[ing]" the entire acquisition system, apparently including the FAR, to "restor[e] the management of the requirements, acquisition, and budget processes back to the state envisioned by the Packard Commission." The Packard Commission is the name commonly given to President Reagan's 1986 Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense. The commission is generally credited with seeking to "link and streamline" the requirements, acquisition, and budget processes, thereby "reducing complexities, regulations, and processes, and enhancing accountability as well as recruiting experienced personnel with strong management credentials." This report provides answers to 25 frequently asked questions regarding the FAR. These questions and their answers are organized into six broad categories, including (1) what the FAR is and what it covers; (2) promulgation of the FAR; (3) the relationship between the FAR and other authorities governing federal procurement (e.g., statutes, agency FAR supplements, other regulations, policies); (4) the FAR in relation to Congress and judicial and other tribunals; (5) the relationship between the FAR and federal procurement contracts; and (6) other topics. This section includes questions and answers that broadly address what the FAR is and what it covers, including where the text of the FAR can be found; what agencies are subject to the FAR; what purchases are subject to the FAR; and what transactions fall outside the FAR's coverage. The FAR is a regulation, codified in Parts 1 through 53 of Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.). As is discussed in more detail below (see " What Does the FAR Cover? "), each part of the FAR, such as Part 37—Service Contracting, is divided into subparts (e.g., Subpart 37.1, Service Contracts—General). Subparts are divided into sections (FAR 37.113, Severance payments to foreign nationals), which may be divided into subsections (Section 37.113-2, Solicitation provision and contract clause). The FAR also contains standard solicitation provisions and contract clauses (Part 52) and forms (Part 53). The various agency FAR supplements, codified in Chapters 2 through 63 of Title 48, and the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), codified in Chapter 99 of Title 48, are not part of the FAR, although they can play a significant role in the acquisition process. " What Is the Relationship Between the FAR and Agency FAR Supplements? ," below, discusses in more detail the relationship between the FAR and agency FAR supplements, such as the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The FAR is available in print from the Government Printing Office as part of the Code of Federal Regulations , or from private publishers. However, it is arguably most conveniently accessed online, where it is available in either PDF or HTML format, at https://www.acquisition.gov/?q=browsefar , or as Title 48 of the C.F.R. at http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/ , or at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR . The FAR applies to certain purchases, discussed below (see " What Purchases Are Subject to the FAR? "), by executive branch agencies, which the FAR defines to mean executive department[s], ... military department[s], or any independent establishment[s] within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 101, 102, and 104(1), respectively, and any wholly owned Government corporation within the meaning of 31 U.S.C. 9101. However, although the FAR applies to executive branch agencies, it does not necessarily apply to all executive branch agencies, or to all organizational components of a particular executive branch agency. Exceptions include, for example, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which Congress has authorized to establish its own acquisition system, and the U.S. Mint. The FAR does not apply to legislative branch agencies or judicial branch agencies, although agencies in the other branches of government (or otherwise not subject to the FAR) may adopt the FAR as a matter of policy, or promulgate or otherwise be subject to requirements like those in the FAR. For example, the Library of Congress, a legislative branch agency, has stated that it is Library policy to follow the FAR, unless it is determined that a deviation would "be in the best interest of the Library." See also " Could an Agency or Transaction Not Subject to the FAR Be Subject to Requirements Like Those in the FAR? ," below. The FAR does not directly regulate federal contractors or would-be federal contractors, although such vendors are affected by the application of the FAR's definitions, policies, procedures, and requirements by contracting officers. For example, the FAR provides policies and procedures related to types of contracts, subcontracting, contract termination, and payments to contractors. See also " What Is the Relationship Between the FAR and a Federal Contract? " and " What Happens If Required Contract Clauses Are Not Included in a Particular Contract? ," below. As noted previously (see " What Agencies Are Subject to the FAR? "), executive branch agencies are generally subject to the FAR when making certain purchases. Namely, the FAR applies to "acquisitions" of "supplies" (or goods) and "services" with appropriated funds by most (although not all) executive branch agencies. Each of these terms—acquisitions, appropriated funds, supplies, and services—has a specific meaning for purposes of the FAR, which can influence whether the FAR is applicable to particular transactions. For purposes of the FAR, "acquisition" means: the acquiring by contract with appropriated funds of supplies or services (including construction) by and for the use of the Federal Government through purchase or lease, whether the supplies or services are already in existence or must be created, developed, demonstrated, and evaluated. Acquisition begins at the point when agency needs are established and includes the description of requirements to satisfy agency needs, solicitation and selection of sources, award of contracts, contract financing, contract performance, contract administration, and those technical and management functions directly related to the process of fulfilling agency needs by contract. Appropriated funds are "funds paid out of the United States Treasury" that are charged "to an appropriation provided by or derived from an act of Congress." An appropriation is "[a]uthority given to federal agencies to incur obligations and to make payments from Treasury for specified purposes." "Supplies" means: all property except land or interest in land. It includes (but is not limited to) public works, buildings, and facilities; ships, floating equipment, and vessels of every character, type, and description, together with parts and accessories; aircraft and aircraft parts, accessories, and equipment; machine tools; and the alteration or installation of any of the foregoing. Other examples of supplies include office furniture, cameras and audio-visual equipment, information technology and communications equipment, cleaning products and tools, uniforms, and musical instruments. Generally, "services" refers to tasks performed by a contractor. More specifically, a "service contract" means "a contract that directly engages the time and effort of a contractor whose primary purpose is to perform an identifiable task rather than to furnish an end item of supply." The FAR identifies the following as examples of areas in which service contracts may be found: (1) [m]aintenance, overhaul, repair, servicing, rehabilitation, salvage, modernization, or modification of supplies, systems, or equipment. (2) [r]outine recurring maintenance of real property. (3) [h]ousekeeping and base services. (4) [a]dvisory and assistance services. (5) [o]peration of Government-owned equipment, real property, and systems. (6) [c]ommunications services. (7) [a]rchitect-[e]ngineering …. (8) [t]ransportation and related services …. (9) [r]esearch and development. Certain transactions, by their nature, are not subject to the FAR. Notable examples of such transactions are any agency contract or agreement that is not a procurement contract (i.e., not a contract that uses appropriated funds to acquire property or services for the direct use of the United States), including "other transactions" (i.e., non-procurement contracts that authorized agencies may use for research and/or development of prototypes); grants and cooperative agreements; contracts with third parties entered into by persons using federal funds from a grant, cooperative agreement, or other federal financial assistance; purchases or leases of real property; and transactions where Congress has authorized a government entity to acquire goods or services "notwithstanding any other provision of law."