The FAR Council is undertaking a systematic approach to revising the FARs. On Friday, June 13, 2025, it released its revisions to FAR Part 18 – Emergency Acquisitions, FAR Part 39 – Acquisition of Information and Communication Technology, and FAR Part 43 – Contract Modifications.

Here are the following redlines showing the additions and deletions to each of these three sections of the FAR:

• • Redline – Part 43 Official and 43 Revised
  • Redline – Part 39 Official and Part 39 Revised
  • Redline – Part 18 Official and Part 18 Revised

FAR Part 18 – Emergency Acquisitions

• • The changes to FAR Part 18 consist primarily of the deletion of provisions that reference other parts of the FAR, including those that referenced award of contracts under the HUBZone and 8(a) Programs.
  • Instead, the revised FAR Part 18 now states:

Contracting officers should use the flexibilities included in the FAR to respond quickly for an ‎emergency or urgent need. See the list of FAR flexibilities available at ‎https://acquisition.gov/emergency-procurement

FAR Part 39 – Acquisition of Information and Communication Technology,

• • Renamed and broadened to cover “Information and Communication Technology (ICT)” instead of just “Information Technology.”
  • Added language stating that this FAR Part “emphasizes strategies that promote faster acquisition and secure deployment of ‎technology that is new or emerging‎.”
  • Reorganized FAR Part 39 to include ICT accessibility under Subpart 39.104.
  • Provided new risk and modular contracting guidance:
    • Modular contracting strongly encouraged for both major and non-major IT systems.
    • Added focus on managing rapid technological change and risk (including use of technology refresh techniques).

FAR Part 43 – Contract Modifications

• • Eliminated the regulation provisions that contracting offices and officers shall:
    • ‎“establish suspense ‎systems adequate to ensure accurate identification and prompt definitization of unpriced change ‎orders;” and
    • “ensure that a cost analysis is made, if appropriate, under 15.404-1(c) and shall consider the contractor’s ‎segregable costs of the change, if available‎.”
  • The revised regulations also eliminate the guidance regarding field pricing guides.

This article summarizes aspects of the law. This article does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice regarding your situation, you should contact an attorney.