Subpart 4.17
Service Contracts Inventory
FAR Subpart 4.17 requires agencies and contractors to systematically collect and report detailed information on service contracts to ensure transparency and compliance with federal mandates.
Overview
FAR Subpart 4.17 establishes the requirements for maintaining and reporting inventories of service contracts awarded by federal agencies. Its primary purpose is to ensure transparency, oversight, and compliance with statutory mandates regarding service contract activities. The subpart outlines definitions, applicability, reporting requirements, contracting officer responsibilities, and necessary contract clauses related to service contract inventories. This framework supports agency efforts to analyze workforce composition, manage service contract spending, and fulfill annual reporting obligations to higher authorities and Congress.
Key Rules
- Scope and Definitions
- Clarifies which contracts are covered and provides key definitions for consistent application.
- Applicability
- Specifies which contracts and agencies must comply with inventory requirements.
- Reporting Requirements
- Mandates annual reporting of service contract inventories, including specific data elements and deadlines.
- Contracting Officer Responsibilities
- Details the actions contracting officers must take to collect, validate, and submit required information.
- Contract Clauses
- Identifies required clauses to be included in applicable service contracts to facilitate data collection and compliance.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must ensure accurate data collection, timely reporting, and inclusion of required clauses in service contracts.
- Contractors: Must provide necessary information as required by contract clauses to support agency reporting.
- Agencies: Oversee compliance, consolidate inventory data, and submit reports to designated authorities.
Practical Implications
- This subpart exists to improve visibility into federal service contracting and support strategic workforce planning.
- It impacts daily contracting by imposing additional data collection and reporting steps.
- Common pitfalls include incomplete data, missed deadlines, or failure to include required clauses, which can result in compliance issues or audit findings.