Category: Contracting & Acquisition
48 CFR Part 204
Also known as: DFARS Part 204, DFARS 204, Part 204 (Administrative and Information Matters)
Simply put
48 CFR Part 204 is a part of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), which is the Department of Defense's supplement to the broader Federal Acquisition Regulation. It sets out DoD-specific policies and procedures for administrative and information matters in defense contracting. It is one of the DFARS parts being amended to formally bring the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) into DoD contracts.
Formal definition
48 CFR Part 204 refers to the DFARS part titled 'Administrative and Information Matters,' located in Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 2 (the DFARS), not Chapter 1 (the FAR). As the DoD supplement to the FAR, DFARS Part 204 addresses DoD-specific administrative and information-handling policies and procedures, including subparts such as those governing the release and safeguarding of information to litigation support contractors. Per the evidence, DoD proposed (Aug 15, 2024) and subsequently moved to finalize amendments to 48 CFR Parts 204, 212, 217, and 252 to implement CMMC acquisition policy, authorizing contracting officers to incorporate the relevant DFARS clause (e.g., DFARS 252-series clauses) into solicitations and contracts. Practitioners should verify the current, effective regulatory text and any specific subpart, clause, or effective-date references directly against the authoritative DFARS source, as this entry does not cover implementation-level or contractual specifics.
Why it matters
48 CFR Part 204 is one of the DFARS parts that the Department of Defense is amending to formally bring the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) into defense contracts. Because it is a DFARS part, located in Title 48, Chapter 2 (the DoD supplement to the FAR), not Chapter 1 (the FAR itself), changes to Part 204 carry direct contractual consequences for the defense industrial base. When DoD amends this part alongside 48 CFR Parts 212, 217, and 252, it establishes the acquisition-side machinery that authorizes contracting officers to incorporate the relevant DFARS clause into solicitations and contracts, translating cybersecurity policy into enforceable contract terms.
Who it's relevant to
Defense Contractors and Subcontractors
Companies in the defense industrial base are directly affected when Part 204 and related DFARS parts are amended, because these changes authorize contracting officers to incorporate CMMC-related DFARS clauses into solicitations and contracts. Contractors should monitor the finalized regulatory text to understand which obligations will become conditions of award and performance.
Contracting Officers and Acquisition Professionals
Because DFARS Part 204 governs DoD-specific administrative and information matters and is being amended to authorize insertion of the relevant DFARS clause into contracts, acquisition personnel need to understand how these amendments alter solicitation and contract handling. They should work from the current, effective DFARS text rather than the proposed rule.
Compliance Officers and Contract Managers
Those responsible for tracking DoD acquisition requirements should recognize that CMMC expectations become enforceable through amendments to DFARS parts such as 204, 212, 217, and 252, not through the CMMC framework alone. They should distinguish DFARS (Title 48, Chapter 2) provisions from FAR provisions and verify specific clause and subpart references.
Legal and Regulatory Advisors
Attorneys and advisors interpreting DoD acquisition rulemaking should note the distinction between DFARS Part 204 and the FAR, the ongoing nature of the CMMC-related rulemaking (proposed August 15, 2024, with subsequent moves to finalize), and the need to confirm effective dates and clause language against authoritative sources before advising clients.
Inside 48 CFR Part 204
DFARS Part Placement (Title 48, Chapter 2)
48 CFR Part 204 is located in Title 48, Chapter 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which constitutes the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) issued by the DoD. It is not part of the FAR (Title 48, Chapter 1); the government-wide administrative matters counterpart resides in FAR Part 4. DFARS Part 204 supplements, rather than replaces, the corresponding FAR provisions and applies to DoD acquisitions. Readers should verify current text against the official DFARS as maintained at acquisition.gov.
Administrative and Information Matters Scope
As a DFARS part, Part 204 generally addresses DoD-specific administrative and information matters in the acquisition process, supplementing the analogous FAR Part 4 coverage. Because DFARS provisions are DoD-specific and subject to revision, the precise sections and subparts should be confirmed against the current authoritative text.
Relationship to Safeguarding CUI Requirements
DFARS Part 204 is associated in practice with DoD safeguarding requirements applicable to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in contractor systems, including the subparts that implement contract clauses in DFARS 252.204. These requirements are DoD-specific and distinct from civilian-agency FISMA obligations and from FedRAMP authorizations for cloud services. The specific clause numbers and their exact obligations should be verified against the current DFARS.
Implementing Clauses in DFARS Subpart 252.204
Part 204 subparts prescribe when contracting officers include corresponding solicitation provisions and contract clauses found in DFARS 252.204. Whether a given clause flows down to subcontractors, and the impact levels or baselines it invokes, depend on the specific clause and current revision, which practitioners must confirm in the applicable contract and authoritative source.
Common questions
Answers to the questions practitioners most commonly ask about 48 CFR Part 204.
Is 48 CFR Part 204 the same as FAR Part 4?
No. This is a frequent point of confusion. 48 CFR Part 204 refers to the DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement) Part 204, located in Title 48, Chapter 2. It is DoD-specific and supplements, rather than duplicates, the government-wide FAR Part 4, which sits in Title 48, Chapter 1. FAR Part 4 addresses administrative matters applicable across federal agencies, while DFARS Part 204 provides DoD's additional or tailored requirements. Readers should confirm which citation applies to their acquisition and verify the current text against the official source.
Does 48 CFR Part 204 set government-wide administrative rules for all federal agencies?
No. As a DFARS part, 48 CFR Part 204 applies to Department of Defense acquisitions rather than establishing government-wide rules. Government-wide administrative matters are addressed in FAR Part 4. Civilian agency requirements may differ and are generally governed by the FAR and any applicable agency-specific supplement. Where a requirement's scope matters to your program, verify whether the DFARS provision, the FAR provision, or both apply.
How do I determine whether a DFARS Part 204 provision applies to my contract?
Because DFARS Part 204 is DoD-specific, its applicability generally depends on whether the acquisition is a DoD acquisition and on the specific solicitation and contract terms. Reviewing the actual clauses incorporated into the contract, rather than the regulatory part alone, is the reliable approach, since the part contains prescriptions that direct when particular clauses are inserted. Confirm the current DFARS text and any incorporated clauses against the official source, as regulatory language is periodically revised.
Where does DFARS Part 204 fit alongside FAR Part 4 when both may be relevant to a DoD contract?
For DoD acquisitions, both the FAR and the DFARS supplement typically operate together: the FAR provides the baseline and the DFARS adds or tailors DoD-specific administrative requirements. DFARS Part 204 is generally read as a supplement to FAR Part 4 rather than a replacement. Practitioners should review both the applicable FAR and DFARS provisions and confirm the currently effective versions, because tailoring and revisions can change how the two interact.
What should a compliance officer check when reviewing a solicitation for DFARS Part 204-related requirements?
A practical review generally includes identifying which DFARS clauses the solicitation prescribes and incorporates, confirming that the corresponding FAR Part 4 requirements are also addressed where applicable, and verifying the current effective text of each cited provision. Because DFARS provisions are periodically updated, relying on the specific version referenced in the solicitation and cross-checking it against the official DFARS source is advisable. This entry does not cover the specific contractual or legal effect of any individual clause, which should be confirmed with the current authoritative text and, where appropriate, counsel.
How can I stay current with changes to DFARS Part 204?
Because the DFARS is revised over time through rulemaking, the most reliable approach is to consult the official DFARS source maintained for DoD acquisitions rather than relying on cached or summarized versions. Tracking rule changes and confirming the version in effect at the time of the applicable acquisition helps avoid applying superseded language. This entry describes the regulatory placement and general nature of Part 204 and does not substitute for reviewing the current authoritative text.
Common misconceptions
48 CFR Part 204 is a FAR part governing government-wide administrative matters.
It is a DFARS part located in Title 48, Chapter 2, issued by the DoD and specific to defense acquisitions. The government-wide administrative and information matters are covered separately by FAR Part 4 in Title 48, Chapter 1. DFARS Part 204 supplements the FAR rather than replacing it.
Meeting the safeguarding provisions associated with DFARS Part 204 means a contractor is fully secure and compliant across all frameworks.
Compliance with DoD contract clauses is not the same as security, and satisfying DFARS-based safeguarding obligations does not automatically satisfy civilian-agency FISMA requirements or serve as a FedRAMP authorization. Each authority has distinct scope, and obligations should be confirmed against current official sources.
A FedRAMP authorization automatically satisfies the DoD requirements implemented through DFARS Part 204 subparts and clauses.
FedRAMP authorization and DoD contractual safeguarding requirements are separate. A FedRAMP authorization does not automatically satisfy DoD-specific obligations, which may impose additional or different requirements depending on the applicable clause and current revision.
Best practices
Confirm that you are reading the DFARS version of Part 204 in Title 48, Chapter 2 at acquisition.gov, and do not conflate it with FAR Part 4 in Title 48, Chapter 1.
Verify the specific subparts and the corresponding DFARS 252.204 clauses against the current authoritative text, since clause numbers, flowdown, and obligations change across revisions.
Treat DoD contractual safeguarding requirements as distinct from FISMA and FedRAMP, and confirm each applicable authority separately rather than assuming one satisfies another.
Do not equate satisfying contract clauses with achieving security; maintain security practices and continuous monitoring beyond the minimum contractual language.
Review each contract for the exact clauses incorporated, and confirm subcontractor flowdown obligations with contracting and legal counsel before relying on assumptions.
Validate any impact levels, baselines, or effective dates against current official DoD and DFARS sources rather than relying on prior versions or secondary summaries.