Reference · Contract vehicles & pricing
Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)
Commercially available off-the-shelf item (the FAR-defined term)
A commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item — the FAR's defined term — is a commercial product sold in substantial quantities in the marketplace and offered to the government without modification. COTS items are a subset of commercial products and often carry the lightest clause load.
What it is
COTS means an item is both commercial and sold as-is — available off the shelf, not built or modified for the government. That status exempts it from certain flow-down requirements (for example the flow-down of many cyber and safeguarding clauses).
Why it exists
Treating standard commercial products as COTS keeps the government from imposing government-unique requirements on ordinary catalog items.
Who it applies to
Companies selling standard commercial products to the government, typically under FAR Part 12 commercial procedures.
Frequently asked
What does COTS mean?
COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) means a commercial product sold in substantial quantities in the marketplace and offered to the government without modification. COTS items are a subset of commercial products and are exempt from certain contract flow-down requirements.
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