Federal glossary · Regulation
NIST SP 800-53 provides a catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems. Used to assess and authorize federal systems. Over 1,000 controls across 20 families.
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
NIST SP 800-53 provides a catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems. Used to assess and authorize federal systems. Over 1,000 controls across 20 families.
is a regulation concept federal contractors and grant writers run into across solicitations, regulations, and award filings
NIST SP 800-53 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, NIST SP 800-53 is not just background — it shapes solicitation language, evaluation criteria, source-selection authority, and what counts as compliant performance. Understanding when NIST SP 800-53 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 NIST SP 800-53 as common vocabulary, so reading their decisions, modifications, and source-selection memoranda gets easier when the regulation is in your working memory. Pair NIST SP 800-53 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
NIST SP 800-53 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.
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