What does it mean to be "DFARS Compliant" mean for fastener suppliers?

What does DFARS Compliant mean for fastener suppliers?

The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and the corresponding Department of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) list the requirements and regulations for companies that do business with the United States government. One of the requirements states that parts (including fasteners) that are made from metals that have been classified as "specialty metals" are to be manufactured and melted in the USA. (or one of the approved qualified countries).

The DFARS “specialty metals” requiring compliance (per DFARS 252.225-7008) are:

  • Steel with a maximum alloy content exceeding one or more of the following limits: manganese, 1.65 percent; or silicon, 0.60 percent; or copper, 0.60 percent; or containing more than 0.25 percent of any of the following elements: aluminum, chromium, cobalt, columbium, molybdenum, nickel, titanium, tungsten, or vanadium
  • Metal alloys consisting of nickel, iron-nickel, and cobalt base alloys containing a total of other alloying metals (except iron) in excess of 10 percent
  • Titanium and titanium alloys
  • Zirconium and zirconium base alloys

DFARS qualifying countries include:

  • Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America

For fastener distributors that supply steel and alloy steel fasteners that are made to the SAE, ASTM, or ISO grades, the DFARS requirement will apply to:

  • Grade 8 bolts and screws
  • Socket head screws made from alloy steel
  • Property Class 10.9 and 12.9 bolts and screws

Standard hex nuts (grades 2, 5, and 8) and lower strength bolts and screws (grades 2, 5, and property class 4.6 and 8.8) are typically made from carbon steel and the "specialty metal" designation does not apply to these strength levels.

In talking with our customers, we’ve learned that there are different interpretations as to what being DFARS compliant means. Some of our customers will inform us that the parts they are ordering must be DFARS compliant and are to be manufactured from steel that was made and melted in the USA. Technically, the “made and melted in the USA” designation for fasteners that are made from carbon steel is not a requirement per DFARS.

We also have some customers that will note that Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) items do not need to be DFARS compliant (made and melted in the USA). The definition of what is a COTS item is relatively vague and can be interpreted differently by our customers.

For questions on what items require a “made and melted in the USA” designation, contact us at:

Phone: +1 (800) 327-6378
Email: [email protected]