Federal glossary · Regulation
Clinger-Cohen Act (1996) requires agencies to use performance-based management for IT investments. Established CIO authority, required capital planning, and emphasized interoperability and information security.
Example: FAR Part 15, DFARS, or a statute such as the NDAA.
Reference record · Sources: Federal acquisition and regulatory source · Verified Jul 2, 2026 · Covers definition, governing source
Also known as
Clinger-Cohen Act (1996) requires agencies to use performance-based management for IT investments. Established CIO authority, required capital planning, and emphasized interoperability and information security.
is a regulation concept federal contractors and grant writers run into across solicitations, regulations, and award filings
Clinger Cohen Act is part of the federal regulatory framework that governs procurement, performance, or compliance. For example: Example: FAR Part 15, DFARS, or a statute such as the NDAA. For contractors, Clinger Cohen Act is not just background — it shapes solicitation language, evaluation criteria, source-selection authority, and what counts as compliant performance. Understanding when Clinger Cohen Act applies and (more importantly) when it doesn't apply is the difference between a proposal that's competitive within its actual constraint set and one that over-engineers compliance. Contracting officers use Clinger Cohen Act as common vocabulary, so reading their decisions, modifications, and source-selection memoranda gets easier when the regulation is in your working memory. Pair Clinger Cohen Act with the related terms above to see how it interacts with adjacent regulatory mechanisms.
Example: FAR Part 15, DFARS, or a statute such as the NDAA.
Meaning in practice
Clinger Cohen Act is part of the federal rule set that governs procurement, compliance, or program administration.
Where you’ll see it
You will see it in the FAR, DFARS, the Federal Register, clauses, and compliance checklists. Example: Example: FAR Part 15, DFARS, or a statute such as the NDAA..
Common confusion
People often confuse a regulation with agency guidance or with a checklist that merely references the rule.
What to do next
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