GovSignals proposes a four-part approach for AI use by federal agencies when applied in their proposal evaluation and price analysis. GovSignals' comments on the FAR Council's September 18, 2026, proposal to revise the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), offering a consistent standard for tools agencies already use in live evaluations.
NEW YORK, October 18, 2026. GovSignals, Inc. today submitted public comments requesting the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) to establish a governmentwide standard for artificial intelligence and automated analytic tools when deployed by federal agencies in proposal evaluation, price analysis, and contract file documentation. GovSignals submitted a comment letter in response to the FAR Council's September 18, 2026 proposed rule revising the FAR Case 2026-003, and recommends adding language focused specifically on agencies' AI use.
Agencies already employ AI and automated analytic tools in live source selections. Neither the current FAR nor the published revisions specifically address those tools. GovSignals sees the overhaul as an opportunity to give contracting officers a consistent standard for using AI capabilities already available to them and to ensure transparency where used.
The Four-Part Approach
GovSignals proposes a permissive, plain-language, four-part approach for AI-assisted evaluation and price analysis that is intended to give contracting officers practical direction while supporting government transparency.
The recommended framework has four parts:
- Permissive. AI tools may be used. Nothing mandates AI.
- Disclosed. If AI tools will assist evaluation, the RFP says so.
- Human-adopted. A Government evaluator independently reviews and adopts every AI-assisted finding before it is relied upon.
- Documented. The contract file identifies the tool, its scope of use, the reviewing official(s) by function or position, not by name, and any finding that was modified or rejected.
Government evaluators would remain responsible for their findings, with the contract file documenting how tools assisted their work.
The comment proposes specific regulatory text, with each insertion tied to a section of the proposed rule.
"The FAR overhaul is an opportunity to give contracting officers a consistent approach to tools their agencies already use," said Derek Hoyt, Chief Executive Officer of GovSignals. "We support the Council's work and are proposing a framework that builds on it. We want to contribute a practical standard for how these tools will assist the acquisition workforce."
GovSignals delivers AI-native acquisition software in production use at federal agencies. The recommended text names no product, requires no tool, and keeps decision-making authority with Government officials.
The full comment, including a consolidated table of every proposed insertion, has been submitted to the public docket at www.regulations.gov under FAR Case 2026-003. More information is available at govsignals.ai.
About GovSignals
GovSignals is the system of work for government acquisition. We serve the teams defining the mission to the companies delivering it. For the government, GovSignals helps acquisition teams allocate resources, monitor programs, and defend decisions. For industry, GovSignals helps vendors find, win, and deliver federal work. The GovSignals Network houses the vetted defense industrial base, with the aim of increasing the readiness, and lethality, of the Department of War. GovSignals is a venture-backed, nontraditional defense contractor with FedRAMP High and IL5 authorizations. Founded in 2023, GovSignals is headquartered in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Contact: Dylan Vergara, dylan.vergara@govsignals.ai. Questions about the rulemaking itself should go to the FAR Council at FARpolicy@gsa.gov, citing "FAR Case 2026-003."