FAR 17.102—Applicability.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 17.102 is a narrow applicability rule that limits when the authorities in FAR 17.101 may be used. It specifically addresses DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, and it carves out contracts for the purchase of supplies that are subject to 40 U.S.C. 759, which covers information resource management supply contracts. In practical terms, this section tells acquisition personnel that the special statutory authorities referenced in FAR 17.101 do not extend to this category of supply purchases for those agencies. The purpose is to prevent overlap or conflict between the general authorities in FAR Part 17 and the separate legal framework governing information resource management supplies. For contracting officers and program staff, the key significance is that they must identify whether a contemplated supply contract falls under 40 U.S.C. 759 before relying on the authorities in FAR 17.101. If it does, the FAR 17.101 authorities are not available, and the procurement must be handled under the applicable IRM-specific rules instead.
Key Rules
Limited agency scope
This section applies only to DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard. Other agencies are not addressed by this applicability limitation in this provision.
IRM supply contracts excluded
The authorities cited in FAR 17.101 do not apply to contracts for the purchase of supplies covered by 40 U.S.C. 759. Those contracts are treated as information resource management supply contracts and are outside the reach of the cited authorities.
No use of 17.101 authorities
When the contract falls within the 40 U.S.C. 759 category, contracting personnel may not rely on the authorities referenced in FAR 17.101 to justify the acquisition approach. The exclusion is categorical for the covered contracts.
Separate governing framework controls
The existence of this exclusion means the acquisition must be evaluated under the specific statutory and regulatory rules applicable to information resource management supplies, rather than under the general authorities in FAR 17.101.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Determine whether the contemplated supply purchase is subject to 40 U.S.C. 759 before invoking any authority from FAR 17.101. If the contract is an IRM supply contract, the contracting officer must not use the excluded authorities and must follow the applicable IRM-specific requirements.
Program/Requirements Personnel
Identify early whether the requirement involves information resource management supplies so the acquisition strategy is not built on authorities that do not apply. They should provide accurate requirement descriptions and technical context to support the applicability determination.
Agency Acquisition Officials
Ensure internal acquisition guidance and reviews account for this statutory carve-out for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard. They should help prevent improper reliance on FAR 17.101 for covered supply contracts.
Contractor
Understand that this provision limits the government’s authority framework for certain supply purchases and should not assume FAR 17.101 authorities will govern an IRM-related procurement. Contractors should review the solicitation and governing clauses to determine the correct legal basis for the acquisition.
Practical Implications
Before using any FAR 17.101 authority, check whether the purchase is an information resource management supply contract under 40 U.S.C. 759.
This is a threshold applicability issue: if the contract is covered, the FAR 17.101 authorities are simply unavailable, not merely discouraged.
A common pitfall is treating all supply purchases the same and overlooking the special IRM carve-out for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard.
Misclassification can lead to an unsupported acquisition strategy, protest risk, or internal review findings if the wrong authority is cited.
Contract files should clearly document the applicability determination so reviewers can see why FAR 17.101 was or was not used.
Official Regulatory Text
For DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, the authorities cited in 17.101 do not apply to contracts for the purchase of supplies to which 40 U.S.C.759 applies (information resource management supply contracts).