A lender or buyer counting on a newly awarded contract needs to know the award will stand. Defence contracts often use special routes (direct award, Other Transactions, national security exemptions) with their own rules.
Across the 3 regimes
United Kingdom
Procurement Act 2023, in force from 24 February 2025, with a defined category of defence and security contracts. An eight working day standstill applies before most contracts are signed.
United States
FAR and DFARS for procurement contracts. Prototype Other Transaction agreements under 10 U.S.C. 4021 and 4022 sit outside the FAR, with written approvals above US$100m.
EU and NATO
Directive 2009/81/EC, as implemented in each member state. NSPA and OCCAR use their own procurement regulations.
The rest of this page sets out the 3 quoted provisions behind these cells, what is usually negotiated, and what lenders and buyers ask. It is free with a work email, along with the full tools and guides.
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Related
General information on public law and standard terms as at 28 Oct 2026, not legal advice on any contract or transaction. Quoted wording is checked against the official text linked to it.