Wayfinder — find the FAR/DFARS Part you need

“Where do I start?” Pick the question that sounds most like your situation and follow it to the Parts you should read.

By question

flowchart TD
  Start[Start here] --> Q1{What are you doing?}
  Q1 -->|Writing a proposal| Propose[Proposal work]
  Q1 -->|Performing a contract| Perform[Performance work]
  Q1 -->|Disputing an action| Dispute[Dispute / protest]
  Q1 -->|Setting up a contract vehicle| Vehicle[Vehicle / set-aside]
  Q1 -->|Getting paid or audited| Money[Financial / audit]

  Propose --> P1[FAR Part 15: Negotiation]
  Propose --> P2[FAR Part 12: Commercial items]
  Propose --> P3[DFARS 252.227-7017: IP assertions]
  Propose --> P4[FAR Part 19: Small business]

  Perform --> Pf1[FAR Part 42: Administration]
  Perform --> Pf2[FAR Part 43: Modifications]
  Perform --> Pf3[DFARS 252.204-7012: Cyber]
  Perform --> Pf4[FAR Part 46: Quality]

  Dispute --> D1[FAR Part 33: Protests & disputes]
  Dispute --> D2[FAR 49.402: Cure / show-cause]
  Dispute --> D3[FAR Part 49: Termination]

  Vehicle --> V1[FAR Part 16: Contract types]
  Vehicle --> V2[FAR Part 17: IDIQ / BPAs / options]
  Vehicle --> V3[FAR Part 19: Small business set-asides]
  Vehicle --> V4[FAR Part 38: GSA Schedules]

  Money --> M1[FAR Part 31: Cost principles]
  Money --> M2[FAR Part 30: CAS]
  Money --> M3[FAR Part 32: Financing]
  Money --> M4[DFARS Part 232: Progress / PBP]

Clickable wikilinks for each box are listed below. Obsidian renders the diagram in preview mode; in edit mode you see the source.

Proposal work

• FAR Part 15 — Negotiation (the main proposal rules)
• FAR Part 12 — Commercial products & services
• DFARS 252.227-7017 — IP assertions at proposal (critical for defense)
• FAR Part 19 — Small business set-asides

Performance work

• FAR Part 42 — Contract administration, ACO/DCMA roles
• FAR Part 43 — Contract modifications, equitable adjustments
• DFARS 252.204-7012 — Cyber safeguarding + 72-hour incident reporting
• FAR Part 46 — Quality assurance, inspection, acceptance

Dispute / protest

• FAR Part 33 — Protests, disputes, appeals (GAO, COFC, CDA)
• FAR 49.402 — Cure notices, show-cause
• FAR Part 49 — Terminations for convenience and default

Vehicle / set-aside

• FAR Part 16 — Contract types (FFP, CPFF, T&M, IDIQ)
• FAR Part 17 — Options, BPAs, BOAs, multi-year
• FAR Part 19 — Small business programs (8a, HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB)
• FAR Part 38 — Federal Supply Schedules

Financial / audit

• FAR Part 31 — Cost principles (allowable / unallowable)
• FAR Part 30 — Cost Accounting Standards
• FAR Part 32 — Contract financing (progress payments, assignments)
• DFARS Part 232 — DoD progress and performance-based payments

By lifecycle phase

flowchart LR
  Plan[1 Plan] --> Solicit[2 Solicit]
  Solicit --> Eval[3 Evaluate]
  Eval --> Award[4 Award]
  Award --> Perform[5 Perform]
  Perform --> Term[6 Terminate?]
  Term --> Close[7 Closeout]
  Perform --> Close

See Contract Lifecycle for the full Parts-by-phase crosswalk.

By keyword

If the word on your mind is…	Start here
Cyber, CUI, CMMC	DFARS 252.204-7012 → DFARS Part 204
Tech data, IP, SBIR data	DFARS Part 227 → DFARS 252.227-7013
Small business	FAR Part 19
Buy American, Berry, specialty metals	FAR Part 25 / DFARS Part 225
Commercial item, COTS	FAR Part 12 / DFARS Part 212
OTA, prototype	10 USC 4022 (out of FAR — see DoD policy)
Protest, GAO	FAR Part 33
Termination	FAR Part 49
Changes, equitable adjustment	FAR Part 43
Cost allowability, DCAA	FAR Part 31 / FAR Part 30
Progress payments	FAR Part 32 / DFARS Part 232
FOCI	DFARS Part 204, 32 CFR 117
Service Contract Act, Davis-Bacon	FAR Part 22

Related

• Read Me First — the orientation
• Map.canvas — spatial / interactive map (open in Obsidian Canvas)
• FAR — The Story · DFARS — The Story