[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 48, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 48CFR46.101]

[Page 844]
 
            TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
              (This book contains chapter 1, parts 1 to 51)

                CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION
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PART 46_QUALITY ASSURANCE--Table of Contents
 
                          Subpart 46.1_General
 
Sec. 46.101  Definitions.


    As used in this part--
    Acceptance means the act of an authorized representative of the 
Government by which the Government, for itself or as agent of another, 
assumes ownership of existing identified supplies tendered or approves 
specific services rendered as partial or complete performance of the 
contract.
    Conditional acceptance means acceptance of supplies or services that 
do not conform to contract quality requirements, or are otherwise 
incomplete, that the contractor is required to correct or otherwise 
complete by a specified date.
    Contract quality requirements means the technical requirements in 
the contract relating to the quality of the product or service and those 
contract clauses prescribing inspection, and other quality controls 
incumbent on the contractor, to assure that the product or service 
conforms to the contractual requirements.
    Critical nonconformance means a nonconformance that is likely to 
result in hazardous or unsafe conditions for individuals using, 
maintaining, or depending upon the supplies or services; or is likely to 
prevent performance of a vital agency mission.
    Government contract quality assurance means the various functions, 
including inspection, performed by the Government to determine whether a 
contractor has fulfilled the contract obligations pertaining to quality 
and quantity.
    Major nonconformance means a nonconformance, other than critical, 
that is likely to result in failure of the supplies or services, or to 
materially reduce the usability of the supplies or services for their 
intended purpose.
    Minor nonconformance means a nonconformance that is not likely to 
materially reduce the usability of the supplies or services for their 
intended purpose, or is a departure from established standards having 
little bearing on the effective use or operation of the supplies or 
services.
    Off-the-shelf item means an item produced and placed in stock by a 
contractor, or stocked by a distributor, before receiving orders or 
contracts for its sale. The item may be commercial or produced to 
military or Federal specifications or description.
    Patent defect means any defect which exists at the time of 
acceptance and is not a latent defect.
    Subcontractor (see 44.101).
    Testing means that element of inspection that determines the 
properties or elements, including functional operation of supplies or 
their components, by the application of established scientific 
principles and procedures.

[48 FR 42415, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 60 FR 48249, Sept. 18, 1995; 
61 FR 31662, June 20, 1996; 64 FR 51846, Sept. 24, 1999; 66 FR 2133, 
Jan. 10, 2001]