Federal glossary · Regulation
Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) is the government-wide framework for grants and cooperative agreements. Covers cost principles, administrative requirements, and audit requirements. Replaced OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A-110, A-122, and A-133.
Reference record · Sources: 2 CFR 200 · Verified Jul 2, 2026 · Covers definition, governing source
Also known as
Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) is the government-wide framework for grants and cooperative agreements. Covers cost principles, administrative requirements, and audit requirements. Replaced OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A-110, A-122, and A-133.
is a regulation concept federal contractors and grant writers run into across solicitations, regulations, and award filings
Uniform Guidance is part of the federal regulatory framework that governs procurement, performance, or compliance. For contractors, Uniform Guidance is not just background — it shapes solicitation language, evaluation criteria, source-selection authority, and what counts as compliant performance. Understanding when Uniform Guidance 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 Uniform Guidance as common vocabulary, so reading their decisions, modifications, and source-selection memoranda gets easier when the regulation is in your working memory. Pair Uniform Guidance with the related terms above to see how it interacts with adjacent regulatory mechanisms.
Meaning in practice
Uniform Guidance 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.
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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