Federal procurement is the government's process for purchasing goods, services, and construction from private vendors. It is governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency-specific supplements like the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The process is designed to ensure competition, transparency, and fair pricing. Agencies must publicly advertise most contracts, evaluate bids objectively, and award work to the most qualified vendor at the best price. Procurement fraud — including bribery, bid rigging, and cost inflation — undermines this process and forces taxpayers to fund contracts not won on merit.