FAR 22.1504—Violations and remedies.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 22.1504 explains what the Government can do when a contractor violates the forced or indentured child labor requirements. It covers four specific violations: submitting a false certification about knowledge of forced or indentured child labor, failing to cooperate with an investigation under the Child Labor Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies clause at 52.222-19, actually using forced or indentured child labor in mining, production, or manufacturing, and furnishing an end product or component that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or partly by forced or indentured child labor. It also distinguishes between violations tied to certification/cooperation and the broader substantive violations involving actual use or supply of tainted products. The section then identifies the available remedies: contract termination by the contracting officer, suspension by the suspending and debarring official, and debarment for up to three years. In practice, this section matters because it gives agencies enforcement tools beyond ordinary contract administration and can trigger serious business consequences for contractors, including loss of current contracts and exclusion from future federal work. It also makes clear that suspension and debarment are not automatic for every violation; for the remedies in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3), the contractor must have known of the violation.
Key Rules
False certification is a violation
A contractor violates this section if it submits a false certification about its knowledge of the use of forced or indentured child labor. This is a certification-based violation and can support remedies under paragraph (b).
Failure to cooperate is a violation
A contractor that does not cooperate with an investigation by an Inspector General, the Attorney General, or the Secretary of the Treasury, as required by the clause at 52.222-19, commits a violation. The cooperation duty is enforceable even when the underlying issue is being investigated by another authority.
Actual use of forced labor triggers remedies
If the contractor uses forced or indentured child labor in mining, production, or manufacturing, the Government may impose remedies. This is a substantive violation and goes beyond a mere defective certification.
Supplying tainted end products is a violation
Furnishing an end product or component that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or partly by forced or indentured child labor is also a violation. The rule reaches components as well as finished end products.
Knowledge matters for suspension and debarment
The remedies in paragraph (b)(2) and (b)(3) — suspension and debarment — are inappropriate unless the contractor knew of the violation. This knowledge requirement limits the use of the most severe administrative remedies.
Termination is available to the CO
The contracting officer may terminate the contract when a violation occurs. This remedy is available separately from suspension or debarment and is handled under the contract administration/termination framework.
Suspension and debarment follow Subpart 9.4
Only the suspending and debarring official may suspend or debar the contractor, and those actions must follow the procedures in FAR Subpart 9.4. Debarment under this section may not exceed three years.
Responsibilities
Contractor
Must not submit false certifications about knowledge of forced or indentured child labor. Must cooperate with investigations under the clause at 52.222-19 and avoid using forced or indentured child labor in mining, production, or manufacturing. Must ensure end products and components furnished to the Government are not mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or partly by forced or indentured child labor.
Contracting Officer
May terminate the contract if a violation occurs. Must coordinate contract remedies with the facts of the violation and the applicable contract clauses, and should ensure the record supports any termination action.
Suspending and Debarring Official
May suspend the contractor under FAR Subpart 9.4 and may debar the contractor for up to three years under FAR Subpart 9.4. Must apply the knowledge requirement before using suspension or debarment remedies under this section.
Inspector General, Attorney General, and Secretary of the Treasury
May investigate suspected use of forced or indentured child labor. Their investigations trigger the contractor’s cooperation obligation under the clause at 52.222-19.
Agency
Must support enforcement of the child labor restrictions through contract administration, investigation coordination, and referral of matters for suspension or debarment when appropriate.
Practical Implications
This section gives the Government both contract-level and governmentwide remedies, so a violation can affect the current contract and the contractor’s eligibility for future awards.
Contractors should treat certifications seriously; a false statement about knowledge can create exposure even before the Government proves actual use of forced labor.
The cooperation requirement is important in investigations, so refusing access, delaying responses, or otherwise obstructing an inquiry can itself become a separate violation.
The knowledge standard is a major limiter for suspension and debarment, so agencies should document what the contractor knew and when before pursuing those remedies.
Because the rule covers components as well as finished end products, contractors need supply-chain controls and traceability checks, not just end-item inspections.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Violations. The Government may impose remedies set forth in paragraph (b) of this section for the following violations (note that the violations in paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) of this section go beyond violations of the requirements relating to certification of end products) (see 22.1503 ): (1) The contractor has submitted a false certification regarding knowledge of the use of forced or indentured child labor. (2) The contractor has failed to cooperate as required in accordance with the clause at 52.222-19 , Child Labor Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies, with an investigation of the use of forced or indentured child labor by an Inspector General, the Attorney General, or the Secretary of the Treasury. (3) The contractor uses forced or indentured child labor in its mining, production, or manufacturing processes. (4) The contractor has furnished an end product or component mined, produced, or manufactured, wholly or in part, by forced or indentured child labor. Remedies in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section are inappropriate unless the contractor knew of the violation. (b) Remedies. (1) The contracting officer may terminate the contract. (2) The suspending and debarring official may suspend the contractor in accordance with the procedures in subpart 9.4 . (3) The suspending and debarring official may debar the contractor for a period not to exceed 3 years in accordance with the procedures in subpart 9.4 .