46.102  Policy.

Agencies shall ensure that-

(a)  Contracts include inspection and other quality requirements, including warranty clauses when appropriate, that are determined necessary to protect the Government's interest;

(b)  Supplies or services tendered by contractors meet contract requirements;

(c)  Government contract quality assurance is conducted before acceptance (except as otherwise provided in this part), by or under the direction of Government personnel;

(d)  No contract precludes the Government from performing inspection;

(e)  Nonconforming supplies or services are rejected, except as otherwise provided in 46.407;

(f)  Contracts for commercial items shall rely on a contractor's existing quality assurance system as a substitute for compliance with Government inspection and testing before tender for acceptance unless customary market practices for the commercial item being acquired permit in-process inspection (Section 8002 of Public Law 103-355). Any in-process inspection by the Government shall be conducted in a manner consistent with commercial practice; and

(g)  The quality assurance and acceptance services of other agencies are used when this will be effective, economical, or otherwise in the Government's interest (see Subpart 42.1).