Class Deviation RFO-2025-49: FAR Class Deviation for FAR Part 49 in Support of Executive Order 14275, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement

Class Deviation RFO-2025-49
August 18, 2025
MEMORANDUM FOR GSA CONTRACTING ACTIVITIES
FROM AND DIGITALLY SIGNED BY: Jeffrey A. Koses, Senior Procurement Executive, Office of Acquisition Policy (MV)
SUBJECT: FAR Class Deviation for FAR Part 49 in Support of Executive Order 14275, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement

On this page:

Purpose
Background
Summary of changes
Instructions
Applicability
Authority
Effective date
Have a question?

1. Purpose

This memorandum approves a class deviation to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 49 for purposes of implementing the FAR Council’s model deviation to FAR part 49.

2. Background

Executive Order (E.O.) 14275, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement, signed April 15, 2025, mandates a comprehensive review and simplification of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

The FAR is being updated to:

Eliminate non-statutory language.
Remove redundant or obsolete language.
Enhance clarity through plain language.
Align with the new FAR framework.
Preserve essential governmentwide acquisition standards.

This project is referred to as the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) initiative. This initiative will make the FAR more concise, understandable, and focused on core procurement requirements.

3. Summary of changes

FAR part 49, Termination of Contracts, has been updated for clarity and usability.

Statutory requirements retained in the RFO FAR part 49 model deviation include, but are not limited to, the following:

31 U.S.C. § 3729, False Claims
41 U.S.C. §§ 7101 et seq (Pub. L. 95-563), The Contract Disputes Act of 1978

Change	Description
Retained	Section 49.000, “Scope of Part”, is simplified and retains the core scope of establishing policies and procedures for terminating contracts early. Section 49.001, “Definitions”, is retained and updated for plain language. Section 49.002, “Applicability”, is retained and updated for plain language with a simpler structure. Subparts 49.1, 49.2, 49.3, 49.4, 49.5, 49.6 and the sections therein, remain mostly intact and are streamlined with some shifting and reorganizing of sections and subsections throughout. All existing clauses are retained (or remain reserved if previously reserved) with no changes to the text.
Removed	Plain language edits were made throughout to enhance readability and remove redundant, unclear, or non-essential language, decreasing the word count by more than 2,500 words. Subsection 49.108-7 “Government assistance in settling subcontracts”, Section 49.113 “Cost principles”, and Section 49.405 “Completion by another contractor” have been removed and may be moved to non-regulatory content.

Change

Description

Retained

Section 49.000, “Scope of Part”, is simplified and retains the core scope of establishing policies and procedures for terminating contracts early.
Section 49.001, “Definitions”, is retained and updated for plain language.
Section 49.002, “Applicability”, is retained and updated for plain language with a simpler structure.
Subparts 49.1, 49.2, 49.3, 49.4, 49.5, 49.6 and the sections therein, remain mostly intact and are streamlined with some shifting and reorganizing of sections and subsections throughout.
All existing clauses are retained (or remain reserved if previously reserved) with no changes to the text.

Removed

Plain language edits were made throughout to enhance readability and remove redundant, unclear, or non-essential language, decreasing the word count by more than 2,500 words.
Subsection 49.108-7 “Government assistance in settling subcontracts”, Section 49.113 “Cost principles”, and Section 49.405 “Completion by another contractor” have been removed and may be moved to non-regulatory content.

This table is not an exhaustive list.

4. Instructions

The GSA acquisition workforce must follow the RFO part 49 instead of FAR part 49 as codified at 48 CFR chapter 1. The Council’s RFO part 49 model deviation text is available at Acquisition.gov/far-overhaul, and is incorporated into this class deviation.
Contracting activities must review templates and related standard operating procedures to align with this class deviation and remove unnecessary processes and steps.

5. Applicability

This class deviation applies to all GSA procurements.

6. Authority

This class deviation is issued under the authority of EO 14275, OMB Memo M-25- 26 [PDF], 48 CFR 1.4, and RFO FAR 1.304.

7. Effective date

This class deviation is effective November 3, 2025 and remains in effect until rescinded or incorporated into the FAR.

8. Have a question?

Try asking GSAi first (upload the new RFO language and GSA’s implementing deviation, then ask your question. Please note, GSAi is accessible to GSA employees only). If you still need clarification, email the GSA Acquisition Policy Division at GSARPolicy@gsa.gov.