Defense Priorities and Allocation System (DPAS)
Subject: DPAS
Source: FAR
FAR Part: FAR 11
DFAR Part:
Contents |
Purpose[1]
§ 700.1 Purpose of this regulation. (a) Title I of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2061, et seq.) (Defense Production Act), authorizes the President: to require the priority performance of contracts and orders necessary or appropriate to promote the national defense over other contracts or orders; to allocate materials, services, and facilities as necessary or appropriate to promote the national defense; and to require the allocation of, or the priority performance under contracts or orders relating to, supplies of materials, equipment, and services in order to assure domestic energy supplies for national defense needs.
FAR Part 11.6 implements the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS), a Department of Commerce Regulation in support of approved national defense, emergency preparedness, and energy programs.
Defense Priorities and Allocation System (DPAS) rated contracts give certain US Government orders priority under Federal Law over all other US Government and commercial work, and notwithstanding other contractual commitments. There are two levels of priority for rated orders established by DPAS. They are:
- DX Orders have highest priority,and take priority over DO
- DO Orders have priority over all non-rated orders except DX rated orders[2].
A couple rules regarding priorities of rated orders.
- 1. First received applies when establishing priorities among like rated orders,
- 2. Must redirect materials and labor away from other orders in order to comply with rating.
Exemptions/Not Required
Under the DPAS regulation a person is not required to place a priority rating on an order for less than $50,000 or one half the FAR Simplified Acquisition Threshold, (Currently $75,000) whichever is larger, provided that delivery can be obtained in a timely fashion without the use of the priority rating (15 CFR 700.17(f)). This does not preclude a person from rating an order under $50,000 if he chooses to do so to insure timely delivery. This threshold would also apply to the mandatory priority rating extension requirements for contractors in FAR 11.603(d)(2).
Related Pages and Contract Clauses
FAR 52.211-15 - Defense Priority and Allocation Requirements
