Federal glossary · Regulation
EAR (Export Administration Regulations) controls export of dual-use commercial items on the Commerce Control List. Administered by BIS (Commerce Department). Less restrictive than ITAR but still significant for many IT products.
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
Export Administration Regulations
Also known as
EAR (Export Administration Regulations) controls export of dual-use commercial items on the Commerce Control List. Administered by BIS (Commerce Department). Less restrictive than ITAR but still significant for many IT products.
(Export Administration Regulations) is a regulation concept federal contractors and grant writers run into across solicitations, regulations, and award filings
EAR 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, EAR is not just background — it shapes solicitation language, evaluation criteria, source-selection authority, and what counts as compliant performance. Understanding when EAR 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 EAR as common vocabulary, so reading their decisions, modifications, and source-selection memoranda gets easier when the regulation is in your working memory. Pair EAR 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
EAR 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
Find the exact citation and confirm whether the page links to a part, clause, or agency interpretation.
No related questions are available yet.
Get notified when usage of EAR changes in contracts or guidance.
Search active federal contracts and solicitations related to EAR on Bureauify.
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