In plain terms. DEAR is the Department of Energy's supplement to the FAR, adding DOE-specific contract rules.
Who it applies to. Contractors serving DOE, including national laboratories and nuclear-security programs.
What it requires. Meet the FAR, then DEAR additions. DOE work can involve classified, export-controlled, or otherwise sensitive information, so expect heightened security and information-handling requirements depending on the program.
Why it matters. DOE's mission spans energy and nuclear security, so the sensitivity of the data — and the stakes of getting protection wrong — can be unusually high.
Citation. DEAR, the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), codified in the FAR System at Title 48 of the C.F.R.