FAR Part 8: Required Sources in Priority Order

General information about a federal regulation, not legal or procurement advice. Text described here is FAR Part 8 as published on acquisition.gov (FAC 2026-01, effective 03/13/2026; page last updated 10/26/2026; checked 2026-10-31).

Short answer

FAR Part 8, “Required Sources of Supplies and Services,” tells federal agencies which government sources they must consider first. FAR 8.002 lists them in descending priority: the agency’s own inventories, excess from other agencies, Federal Prison Industries, the AbilityOne Procurement List, then wholesale supply sources. Federal Supply Schedules (subpart 8.4) are a separate subpart with their own ordering rules.

Definition and scope

Part 8 is policy for executive-agency buyers, not a contract clause. Its sections run from 8.000 to 8.005, and its subparts cover excess personal property (8.1), Federal Supply Schedules (8.4), Federal Prison Industries (8.6), nonprofit agencies employing people who are blind or severely disabled (8.7), printing (8.8) and leasing of motor vehicles (8.11). Subparts 8.2, 8.3, 8.5, 8.9 and 8.10 are reserved. Under 8.002(c), the statutory obligation to use these sources also applies when contractors purchase the supplies or services for Government use.

A FAR clause is different: it is text placed in a solicitation or contract. See what a FAR clause is for that distinction; Part 8 sets which sources an agency must use.

The 8.002 priority order

FAR 8.002(a) says that, except as required by 8.003 or otherwise provided by law, agencies must satisfy their requirements from the mandatory government sources it lists, in descending order of priority. The table maps each tier to the subpart that implements it.

Priority	Supplies source (8.002(a)(1))	Where it is implemented
1	Inventories of the requiring agency	8.002(a)(1)(i)
2	Excess from other agencies	Subpart 8.1
3	Federal Prison Industries, Inc.	Subpart 8.6
4	Supplies on the Procurement List of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled	Subpart 8.7
5	Wholesale supply sources, such as stock programs of GSA, the Defense Logistics Agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and military inventory control points	41 CFR 101-26.3, 101-26.6 and 101-26.704 (as cited in 8.002)

For services, the list is shorter: only services on the Committee’s Procurement List are a mandatory source under 8.002(a)(2). Paragraph (b) allows sources outside the list as prescribed in 41 CFR 101-26.301, and in cases of unusual and compelling urgency as prescribed in 6.302-2.

Federal Supply Schedules and ordering

Federal Supply Schedule ordering sits in subpart 8.4, not in the 8.002 list. FAR 8.405-1 sets three ordering tiers by order value:

At or below the micro-purchase threshold: an ordering activity may place the order with any schedule contractor that can meet the agency’s needs.
Above the micro-purchase threshold, up to the simplified acquisition threshold: the activity by surveying or requesting quotes from at least three schedule contractors, or documents why it restricted consideration to fewer than three.
Above the simplified acquisition threshold: each order is competed, with a request for quotations posted on eBuy or sent to as many schedule contractors as practicable to reasonably ensure quotes from at least three, unless a justification waives the requirement.

Which text applies

Part 8 is being rewritten under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul. The GSA Acquisition Manual (GSAM) part 538 page, last updated 10/26/2026, shows subpart 538.71 as reserved and links to a “GSAR deviation with FSS ordering procedures.” Buyers should therefore confirm which text their agency follows: the FAC 2026-01 text described above, or an agency or GSA deviation. One trade-press account (SmallGovCon, September 15, 2025) reports that the overhaul text moves FSS ordering to GSAM 538.71 and replaces 8.004 with 8.104, Use of Existing Contracts; that is a secondary description, not the regulation.

Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions

The order of 8.002 means a Federal Supply Schedule is not automatically the first stop for a supply requirement. The checklist below comes only from 8.002 and 8.405-1; it is not purchasing advice.

Is the item available from the requiring agency’s own inventory?
Is it available as excess from another agency (subpart 8.1)?
Is it a Federal Prison Industries product (subpart 8.6) or on the Procurement List (subpart 8.7)?
Is it available from a wholesale source such as a GSA, DLA or VA stock program?
If the requirement goes to a schedule, which 8.405-1 tier does the order value fall into, and what must be documented?

FAR 8.405-1(g) lists the minimum documentation for a schedule order: the schedule contracts considered and the contractor chosen, a description of what was purchased, the amount paid, evidence of compliance with the competitive procedures when the order exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold, and the basis for the award decision. For related reading, see FAR Part 46, FAR Part 45, category management and GSA schedule contract vs GSA pricing vendor.

Common misunderstandings

“FAR Part 8 means buying from the GSA schedule.” Schedules are one subpart (8.4). The 8.002 priority list begins with agency inventories and excess property, and wholesale sources such as GSA stock programs come fifth for supplies.
“The priority list covers services the same way.” For services, 8.002(a)(2) names only the Procurement List.
“It binds only the agency.” Under 8.002(c), the Procurement List obligation also applies when contractors purchase the supplies or services for Government use.
“The text is settled.” The overhaul is changing Part 8, and GSA points schedule ordering to a deviation in GSAM 538.

FAQ

What is FAR Part 8?

FAR Part 8 is titled “Required Sources of Supplies and Services.” It sets the mandatory government sources agencies use before going elsewhere, and includes Federal Supply Schedule ordering in subpart 8.4.

What is the order of priority in FAR 8.002?

For supplies: agency inventories, excess from other agencies, Federal Prison Industries, the Procurement List, then wholesale supply sources. For services: the Procurement List.

Is a FAR Part 8 requirement the same as a FAR clause?

No. Part 8 is acquisition policy for agencies; a clause is contract text. See the FAR clause guide.

Sources

All sources checked 2026-10-31.

FAR Part 8: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-8 (FAC 2026-01, effective 03/13/2026)
FAR 8.002: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/8.002
FAR 8.405-1: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/8.405-1
GSA Acquisition Manual part 538: https://www.acquisition.gov/gsam/part-538 (Change 200, effective 10/19/2026)
SmallGovCon, “FAR 2.0 Update: Part 8 – Required Sources of Supplies and Services” (secondary source): https://smallgovcon.com/?p=29444

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