DFARS Compliance for Aerospace Bearings

What is DFARS?

The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is a set of standards administered by the Department of Defense (DoD).  The DFARS contains requirements of law, DoD-wide policies, delegations of FAR authorities, deviations from FAR requirements, and policies/procedures that have a significant effect on the public.

When is DFARS required?

If a company generates any DoD related revenue regardless of size, they must be compliant with DFARS to win or maintain contracts.  The DoD made DFARS Compliance required by any company that generates DoD-related revenue to protect its sensitive data that lies within its supply chain from being compromised.

DFARS for Bearings

Generally speaking, the following (3) DFARS clauses are most commonly referenced for bearing requirements:

225-7001 Buy American and Balance of Payments Program
Products to be “manufactured in the United States substantially all from articles, materials, or supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States.”

225-7009 Restriction on Acquisition of Certain Articles Containing Specialty Metals
Prohibits the DoD from acquiring end units or components for Aerospace & Defense applications unless these items have been manufactured with specialty metals that have been melted or produced in the United States

225-7016 Restriction on Acquisition of Ball and Roller Bearings
Bearings must be manufactured in the United States, its outlying areas, or Canada
Cost of bearing components manufactured in the United States, its outlying areas, or Canada, shall exceed 50% of total cost of bearing components