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Clauses · DFARS · Data rights

DFARS 252.227-7014 Rights in Other Than Commercial Computer Software and Other Than Commercial Computer Software Documentation

Does the regulation require it to flow down?

Yes

Whenever noncommercial software is obtained from a sub for delivery to the government; SBIR/STTR routes to 252.227-7018; any clause that enlarges or diminishes the sub's rights is prohibited ((l)(1)(iii))

Form
verbatim ('without alteration, except to identify the parties') — paragraph (l), NO longer (k): the current edition inserted a (k) 'Limitation on charges' and shifted the flow-down
Reaches
all tiers

Checked against acquisition.gov on 2026-08-04 · edition AUG 2025 · base v0.9.3 Read the text ↗

What it makes you produce

5 items for your checklist, slowest first.

  1. Something somebody else has to issue you

    The same day if the issuer is one of your own suppliers, months if it is an assessor or an underwriter.

    • A license from the owner of any copyrighted software or documentation you did not write, obtained for the Government before delivery

      Owed when third-party copyrighted software or documentation is going into what you will deliver

      252.227-7014(e)

  2. Something you write2

    Days to weeks, and nobody outside your company has to agree to it.

    • Every copy of the software and its documentation delivered under the order carrying one of the legends the clause authorizes

      Owed when the software qualifies for a government purpose rights or restricted rights legend — restrictions can be asserted only by marking the deliverable

      252.227-7014(g)
    • Written procedures that keep restrictive markings to what the order allows

      Owed when you or one of your suppliers will deliver software or documentation with other than unlimited rights

      252.227-7014(h)

  3. Something you fill in and send back

    Hours, once you know which one is missing.

    • The attachment listing the software and documentation you will hand over with restrictions on it

      Owed when you intend to deliver software with a restrictive marking — nothing may be delivered marked unless it is on that list

      252.227-7014(f)(2)

  4. Nothing to send now

    It does not hold the order. It decides what money moves later — what you can claim, what can be claimed from you, and what can be held back — and none of that changes after signature.

    • Nothing to send now: the records showing which money paid for the development are what a later challenge to your markings is decided on

      Owed when you or one of your suppliers will deliver software or documentation with other than unlimited rights

      252.227-7014(h)

When it is used

Contracts under which NONcommercial computer software or software documentation will be delivered (227.7203-6(a)(1)).

Read closely

The flow-down sits at paragraph (l) rather than (k) — the current edition inserted a limitation on charges at (k) and moved it. Government purpose rights run for a nominal five years, and software delivered unmarked reaches the Government with unlimited rights. Paragraph (l)(2) bars the tier above from using the award to widen its rights in your software.

Alternates

  • Alt I · JAN 2025

    DFARS 227.7203-6(a)(2) — research contracts, CO determination after consulting counsel.

    Alternate I adds the publish-for-sale election: publish the delivered software or documentation for sale within 24 months and the Government stops publishing it for sale while it stays reasonably available. The official prescription line calls it paragraph (l) while the current numbering makes it (m), and either way it moves rights rather than deliveries.

The 16 templates that name it, with the line
76CORPDOC 2A — FAR/DFARS Flowdown Provisions for Commercial Products/Services under a DoD Prime ContractLockheed Martinline 292143CORPDOC 3A — FAR/DFARS Flowdown Provisions for Fixed Price Non-Commercial Items under a DoD Prime ContractLockheed Martinline 421155CORPDOC 4A — FAR/DFARS Flowdown Provisions for Cost-Reimbursement/T&M Subcontracts under a DoD Prime ContractLockheed Martinline 456233RTX Flowdown of U.S. Government Contract Clauses Under U.S. Government ContractsRTXline 152760Raytheon TC-003 — Supplement 2: Government Contract Provisions from the DFARSRTXline 123166Northrop Grumman CTM-P-ST-001 — U.S. Government Firm Fixed Price Order (Not for Commercial Products and Services)Northrop Grummanline 60669Northrop Grumman CTM-P-ST-002 — U.S. Government FFP or T&M Order for Commercial Products and ServicesNorthrop Grummanline 718166Northrop Grumman CTM-P-ST-003 — U.S. Government T&M Order (Not for Commercial Products and Services)Northrop Grummanline 588168Northrop Grumman CTM-P-ST-004 — U.S. Government Cost Reimbursement Order (Not for Commercial Products and Services)Northrop Grummanline 719255GD Mission Systems SCM-TMP-005 — General Provisions, Firm Fixed Price PO under U.S. Government Contract (Non-Commercial)General Dynamicsline 1372243GD Mission Systems SCM-TMP-048 — T&M Purchase Orders for Non-Commercial Items in Support of a U.S. Government ContractGeneral Dynamicsline 786240L3Harris LGL-50.F1 — General T&C and Flowdown Clauses for Other Than Commercial Products/Services under a U.S. Government ContractL3Harrisline 2602106L3Harris LGL-50.F2 — General T&C and Flowdown Clauses for Commercial Products/Services under a U.S. Government ContractL3Harrisline 1784273BAE Systems Inc. USGOVA — FAR/DFARS Flow Down Provisions for Subcontracts/Purchase Orders under a U.S. Government (DoD) Prime ContractBAE Systemsline 126989AAR Government Services — C40 Purchase Order General Provisions, Non-Commercial Firm Fixed Price Items or ServicesAAR Corpline 3213178AAR Component Services NY — U.S. Government Contract FAR and DFARS Clauses Incorporated by ReferenceAAR Corpline 1173

Source: acquisition.gov, DFARS 252.227-7014 and 227.7203-6 (verified 2026-08-04)

This is research, not legal advice. It states what the regulation says about this clause and cites the paragraph behind it. It does not rule on your order, and it does not rule on whether a prime's markings are correct.