These regulations implement and supplement the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

The NSF Acquisition Regulations are issued under the authority of section 11(a) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1870(a)).

Except where a deviation is specifically authorized in accordance with subpart 2501.4 or otherwise authorized by law, the FAR and the NSFAR govern all NSF acquisitions.

(a) The NSFAR is published in the daily issues of the Federal Register and, in cumulative form, in the Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) The NSFAR is issued as chapter 25 of title 48, CFR.

The NSFAR uses the same numbering system and arrangement used in the FAR. Where the NSFAR implements the FAR it is numbered and captioned to correspond to the FAR. Where there is no corresponding material in the FAR, Parts 70 and up are used by the NSFAR. Where the subject matter in the FAR requires no implementation the NSFAR contains no corresponding part.

Individual deviations, affecting only one contracting action may be authorized by the NSF Procurement Executive.

Class deviations may be authorized by the NSF Procurement Executive subject to the limitations set forth in FAR subpart 1.4.

Authority and responsibility to contract for authorized supplies and services is vested in the Director, NSF, within the limits expressly provided by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.). The NSF Procurement Executive is delegated overall responsibility by the Director for the Foundation's contracting activities.

NSF Contracting Officers have authority to enter into, administer, or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings to the extent of the authority delegated to them in writing by the NSF Procurement Executive.