Question 1

What is a CPSR (Contractor Purchasing System Review)?

Accepted Answer

A Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR) is an audit conducted by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) to evaluate whether a government prime contractor's purchasing system meets FAR/DFARS requirements. DCMA assesses policies, procedures, and purchasing practices to ensure contractors flow down required clauses, conduct adequate price/cost analysis, and maintain proper documentation. A successful CPSR is required to maintain contractor purchasing system approval (CPSA).

Question 2

What happens if you fail a CPSR?

Accepted Answer

If a contractor fails a CPSR, DCMA may disapprove the purchasing system, which can trigger withholds of up to 5% of progress payments or performance-based payments until corrective actions are accepted. Repeated failures can damage contractor reputation and increase government oversight. J.A. White & Associates has a 100% pass rate helping contractors remediate deficiencies and achieve purchasing system approval.

Question 3

How long does a CPSR audit take?

Accepted Answer

A CPSR audit typically takes one to three weeks of on-site review by DCMA auditors, depending on the contractor's size and the complexity of their purchasing system. Pre-audit preparation, including self-assessment and gap remediation, can take several months. J.A. White & Associates provides end-to-end CPSR readiness preparation to minimize audit duration and maximize the likelihood of approval.

Question 4

What is the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation)?

Accepted Answer

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the primary set of rules governing federal government procurement in the United States. It establishes uniform policies and procedures for acquisition by all executive agencies. The FAR is codified at Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations and is supplemented by agency-specific regulations such as the DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement) for the Department of Defense.

Question 5

What does J.A. White & Associates do?

Accepted Answer

J.A. White & Associates is a federal procurement compliance consulting firm with more than three decades of experience. We specialize in CPSR audit preparation and support, FAR/DFARS compliance advisory, clause flowdown analysis, procurement system policy development, and procurement automation for federal prime contractors and subcontractors. Our team has a 100% CPSR pass rate and serves contractors across all federal agencies nationwide.

JAW Newsletter — May 22, 2026