FAR 22.1700—Scope of subpart.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 22.1700 is the scope statement for the Federal Acquisition Regulation’s trafficking-in-persons subpart. It explains that this subpart exists to implement 22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and Executive Order 13627, Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts, and therefore serves as the legal and policy bridge between those authorities and day-to-day federal contracting requirements. In practical terms, this section tells readers that the subpart is about preventing human trafficking, forced labor, and related abuses in federal contract performance, and that the detailed rules in the subpart are grounded in both statute and executive order. It does not itself impose the full set of contractor obligations; instead, it identifies the source and purpose of the policy framework that follows. For contracting officers, contractors, and agency personnel, the significance is that any trafficking-related compliance requirements in the subpart are not optional best practices but part of a mandatory federal procurement policy regime. This scope statement also signals that the subpart should be read broadly in light of anti-trafficking enforcement goals, contractor oversight, and contract administration responsibilities.
Key Rules
Implements trafficking law
This subpart is issued to carry out 22 U.S.C. chapter 78, which provides the statutory basis for federal anti-trafficking requirements in contracts. The scope statement makes clear that the FAR provisions that follow are tied to that law.
Implements Executive Order 13627
The subpart also implements Executive Order 13627, which strengthens protections against trafficking in persons in federal contracts. This means the FAR requirements are intended to reflect both statutory and executive policy directives.
Applies to federal contracts
The subject matter of the subpart is federal contracting, not general criminal law or private-sector labor policy. Its purpose is to establish procurement-specific rules and oversight mechanisms for contract performance.
Sets policy framework
This section does not list the detailed prohibitions, reporting duties, or remedies; it establishes the policy framework for those requirements. Users must look to the rest of the subpart for the specific contractor and agency obligations.
Responsibilities
Agency
Use this subpart as the governing policy framework when developing, awarding, and administering contracts subject to the trafficking-in-persons requirements. Ensure the subpart’s implementing rules are applied consistently with the statute and Executive Order.
Contracting Officer
Recognize that the trafficking-in-persons subpart is mandatory policy implementing higher-level authorities and apply the detailed requirements in the rest of the subpart during solicitation, award, and contract administration.
Contractor
Understand that federal contracts may include anti-trafficking requirements rooted in this subpart and comply with the detailed obligations that flow from the statutory and executive-order policy basis.
Practical Implications
This section is mainly a roadmap: it tells you why the anti-trafficking rules exist and where they come from, but not the full compliance checklist.
A common mistake is treating the scope statement as if it were optional or merely informational; in reality, it anchors mandatory requirements elsewhere in the subpart.
Contracting officers should use this section to justify inclusion and enforcement of trafficking-related clauses and oversight actions.
Contractors should read this as a warning that anti-trafficking compliance is a core federal contract issue, not just a general ethics expectation.
Because the section references both statute and executive order, users should expect the rest of the subpart to be interpreted in a strong compliance and enforcement posture.
Official Regulatory Text
This subpart prescribes policy for implementing 22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and Executive Order 13627, Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts, dated September 25, 2012.