Purchases made by the Federal Government must comply with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) , which governs all Federal acquisitions. There are a variety of different ways that agencies can comply with these regulations and a variety of contract types to match.
Cost. Depending on type, manufacturer and quantity, as a general guide assume that passive RFID tags are going to cost $1 to $3 for HF tags, and 50c to $6 for UHF tags. This compares to prices in the range $5 to $30 each for Active RFID tags.(Prices are changing rapidly, these are rough numbers as a general guide). Passive UHF RFID tag can typically be read at a range of 5 metres. This compares well against LF and HF tags. For LF tags, range can be less than an inch. for HF tags, range can be to a twelve inches. For UHF tags, range can be up to twenty feet.
RFID systems are often more expensive than barcode systems. Expense is one of the more significant disadvantages of RFID, but there are ways to manage this. Passive tags are relatively inexpensive and, with some types, you can peel them off and stick them on various items, either manually or with an automated application system. Each has its own unique serial number.