FAR 23.201—Authorities.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 23.201 is a short authority statement that tells readers where the rules in this subpart come from and why they exist. It says the subpart implements the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, specifically 42 U.S.C. 8287, which is the statutory basis for federal energy conservation contracting. In practical terms, this means the requirements in the surrounding subpart are not optional policy preferences; they are grounded in law and are intended to support energy efficiency and conservation in federal procurement. The section itself does not impose operational steps, but it establishes the legal foundation for the acquisition methods, contract structures, and agency actions that follow in the rest of the subpart. For contracting officers and contractors, this matters because it signals that energy conservation requirements must be read and applied in light of the statute, not as isolated administrative guidance.
Key Rules
Statutory implementation
This subpart is issued to implement the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 8287. That means the rules in the subpart derive their authority from the statute and must be interpreted consistently with it.
Energy conservation focus
The purpose of the subpart is to support federal energy conservation policy. In practice, the surrounding rules are meant to advance energy efficiency and conservation objectives in federal contracting.
No standalone procedures here
FAR 23.201 does not itself prescribe a procurement method, clause, or approval process. Instead, it serves as the legal and policy foundation for the more detailed requirements elsewhere in the subpart.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Recognize that the subpart is statutory in origin and apply the related energy conservation requirements in a manner consistent with the National Energy Conservation Policy Act.
Agency
Use the subpart as the implementing framework for agency procurement actions involving energy conservation, ensuring internal policies and contract actions align with the statute.
Contractor
Understand that any energy conservation-related requirements in solicitations or contracts under this subpart are grounded in federal law and may affect performance obligations and compliance expectations.
Practical Implications
This section is mainly a legal anchor, so the real operational requirements appear in the rest of the subpart; users should not stop at this section when determining compliance duties.
Because the authority is statutory, agencies should be careful not to treat energy conservation provisions as discretionary if later sections make them mandatory.
Contractors should read solicitations and contracts under this subpart as part of a broader federal energy policy framework, not as isolated technical specifications.
A common pitfall is overlooking the statute behind the FAR text; doing so can lead to misreading the scope or importance of the related requirements.
For day-to-day use, this section tells you where the rules come from, which is important when resolving interpretation questions or assessing whether an agency action is consistent with the governing law.
Official Regulatory Text
This subpart implements the National Energy Conservation Policy Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8287 ).