FAR 22.610—Contract clause.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 22.610 is a clause-insertion rule for the labor standards requirements addressed in this subpart. It tells the contracting officer to include the clause at 52.222-20, Contracts for Materials, Supplies, Articles, and Equipment, in any solicitation and resulting contract that is covered by the underlying statute, with coverage determined by the related provisions at FAR 22.603, 22.604, and 22.605. In practical terms, this section does not create the substantive labor standard itself; instead, it ensures the contract contains the required contractual language so the Government can enforce the statute and the contractor is on notice of its obligations. The section matters because omission of a required clause can create compliance, administration, and enforceability problems, especially where the contract involves covered materials, supplies, articles, or equipment. For contracting officers, it is a mandatory checklist item tied to coverage determinations; for contractors, it is a signal that the contract is subject to the statute’s requirements and associated performance expectations.
Key Rules
Insert required clause
The contracting officer must include FAR 52.222-20, Contracts for Materials, Supplies, Articles, and Equipment, in both the solicitation and the contract when the procurement is covered by the statute.
Coverage controls insertion
Clause insertion is not automatic for every procurement; it applies only when the acquisition falls within the statutory coverage described in FAR 22.603, 22.604, and 22.605.
Applies to solicitations and awards
The clause must appear in the solicitation so offerors know the requirement before bidding, and it must also be included in the resulting contract so it is enforceable during performance.
Mandatory contracting officer action
This is a required action, not a discretionary one. If the contract is covered, the contracting officer has no choice but to include the clause.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Determine whether the procurement is covered by the statute using FAR 22.603, 22.604, and 22.605, and insert FAR 52.222-20 into the solicitation and contract whenever coverage applies.
Contractor
Review the solicitation and contract for the clause, recognize that the award is subject to the statute’s requirements, and comply with the contractual obligations that flow from the inserted clause.
Agency
Support acquisition personnel with correct policy, templates, and review processes so covered procurements consistently include the required clause.
Practical Implications
The main day-to-day task is coverage checking: if the acquisition falls within the statute, the clause must be added early, not after award.
A common pitfall is forgetting to include the clause in the solicitation and only adding it to the contract, which can create avoidable protest, administration, or enforceability issues.
Another risk is misjudging whether the statute applies; contracting officers should confirm coverage against FAR 22.603, 22.604, and 22.605 rather than relying on habit or template defaults.
For contractors, the clause is a warning that the procurement carries specific statutory obligations, so pricing, scheduling, and compliance planning should account for them.
Because this section is purely a clause-insertion requirement, users should look to the referenced sections and the clause text itself for the substantive duties and exceptions.
Official Regulatory Text
The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.222-20 , Contracts for Materials, Supplies, Articles, and Equipment, in solicitations and contracts covered by the statute (see 22.603 , 22.604 , and 22.605 ).