FAR 19.1402—Applicability.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 19.1402 is the applicability provision for the subpart governing the procedures that follow in this section. It states that the subpart’s procedures apply to all Federal agencies that employ one or more contracting officers, which means the coverage is government-wide rather than limited to a particular department, bureau, or acquisition type. In practical terms, this section establishes the reach of the subpart and confirms that any agency with contracting authority must follow the prescribed procedures when the subpart is otherwise triggered. The section does not itself create substantive socioeconomic requirements or set evaluation criteria; instead, it answers the threshold question of who must use the subpart’s procedures. For contracting officers and acquisition personnel, this matters because it prevents agencies from treating the subpart as optional or narrowly applicable based on internal policy. For contractors, it signals that the related procedures may be used across the Federal Government wherever the subpart applies.
Key Rules
Government-wide agency coverage
The subpart applies to all Federal agencies that employ one or more contracting officers. If an agency has contracting authority, it is within the scope of these procedures.
Procedural applicability only
This section addresses the reach of the subpart’s procedures, not the underlying substantive program requirements. It tells users when the procedures must be followed, but it does not by itself establish eligibility, set-aside rules, or award criteria.
No agency-by-agency exception
Agencies cannot exclude themselves from the subpart simply because of internal organization, mission, or size, so long as they employ contracting officers. The applicability is broad and uniform across the Federal Government.
Responsibilities
Federal agencies
Apply the subpart’s procedures whenever the agency employs one or more contracting officers and the subpart is otherwise relevant to the acquisition action.
Contracting officers
Use the procedures in the subpart as required and ensure acquisition actions are handled consistently with the subpart’s government-wide applicability.
Acquisition personnel
Recognize that the subpart is not limited to a single agency and route actions through the correct procedural framework when the subpart applies.
Practical Implications
Agencies should assume the subpart applies broadly unless another FAR provision clearly limits its use.
Contracting officers should not treat the procedures as discretionary local guidance; they are mandatory when applicable.
A common pitfall is confusing applicability of the procedures with eligibility for a particular program or set-aside, which are separate issues.
Because the rule is government-wide, contractors may encounter the same procedural framework across multiple agencies, improving consistency but also increasing the importance of understanding the subpart.
When reviewing an acquisition, the first question is whether the agency employs contracting officers; if yes, the subpart’s procedures are in scope.
Official Regulatory Text
The procedures in this subpart apply to all Federal agencies that employ one or more contracting officers.