FAR 22.800—Scope of subpart.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 22.800 is the scope statement for the FAR subpart on nondiscrimination in employment by contractors and subcontractors. It tells readers that this subpart is about the policies and procedures federal agencies use to ensure equal employment opportunity and prevent unlawful employment discrimination in federal contracting. In practical terms, it frames the rules that apply to contractor and subcontractor employment practices, including how the Government expects contractors to avoid discriminatory treatment in hiring, compensation, promotion, training, and other terms and conditions of employment. Because this is a scope provision rather than a detailed operative rule, it does not itself impose a specific contract clause or reporting duty; instead, it signals that the subpart will govern the Government’s nondiscrimination requirements for contractor labor practices. For contractors, it is a reminder that employment practices are part of contract compliance, not just internal HR policy. For contracting officers and agency staff, it identifies the regulatory area that must be applied when administering contracts subject to these nondiscrimination requirements.
Key Rules
Subpart covers employment nondiscrimination
This subpart addresses policies and procedures related to nondiscrimination in employment by contractors and subcontractors. Its focus is on ensuring that federal contracting does not involve discriminatory employment practices.
Applies to contractors and subcontractors
The scope expressly includes both prime contractors and subcontractors, meaning employment nondiscrimination expectations can flow down through the contracting chain where applicable.
Sets policy and procedure framework
The section is not a standalone compliance requirement; it establishes that the subpart contains the Government’s policy and procedural rules for administering nondiscrimination in contractor employment.
Responsibilities
Agency
Apply the nondiscrimination policies and procedures contained in this subpart when administering covered federal contracts and related contractor employment requirements.
Contracting Officer
Recognize when this subpart is relevant to a procurement and ensure the appropriate nondiscrimination requirements, clauses, and administration actions are used.
Contractor
Understand that employment practices under the contract are subject to federal nondiscrimination policy and comply with the applicable requirements that follow from this subpart.
Subcontractor
Follow the same nondiscrimination expectations in employment practices to the extent the subpart and contract flow-down requirements apply.
Practical Implications
This section is a roadmap, not the full rule set: users must read the rest of the subpart to find the actual obligations, clauses, and procedures.
Contractors should treat employment practices as a compliance issue under federal contracting, especially when hiring, promoting, compensating, or disciplining workers tied to contract performance.
Contracting officers should use this scope provision to identify when nondiscrimination requirements may need to be included or enforced in a procurement.
A common pitfall is assuming the scope statement itself creates all duties; it only tells you what subject matter the subpart covers.
Because subcontractors are included in the scope, prime contractors should pay attention to flow-down obligations and oversight of lower-tier employment practices.
Official Regulatory Text
This subpart prescribes policies and procedures pertaining to nondiscrimination in employment by contractors and subcontractors.