FAR 23.500—Scope of subpart.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 23.500 is the scope statement for Subpart 23.5, and it tells readers that this subpart is about public disclosure of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and GHG reduction goals. In practical terms, it frames the government’s expectations for transparency around climate-related reporting, including what contractors may need to disclose publicly and how reduction targets fit into that disclosure framework. Because it is only a scope provision, it does not itself impose detailed reporting procedures or thresholds; instead, it identifies the subject matter covered by the subpart and signals that the operative requirements will appear in the sections that follow. For contracting officers and contractors, this section matters because it alerts them that climate disclosure obligations may be part of the acquisition environment and may affect proposal preparation, contract administration, and corporate sustainability reporting. It also helps distinguish this subpart from other FAR provisions dealing with environmental compliance, energy efficiency, or sustainability more generally.
Key Rules
Subpart covers GHG disclosure
This subpart is limited to public disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas reduction goals. It establishes the subject area for the rest of the subpart and does not, by itself, create a standalone reporting method or deadline.
Focus on public transparency
The emphasis is on public disclosure, meaning the information at issue is intended to be made available outside the contractor or agency. The scope signals that the subpart is concerned with transparency and accountability, not just internal environmental management.
Includes reduction goals
The scope is not limited to emissions data alone; it also includes greenhouse gas reduction goals. That means the subpart addresses both current emissions-related information and forward-looking commitments or targets.
Operative rules appear elsewhere
As a scope section, FAR 23.500 identifies what the subpart is about but does not contain the detailed requirements, exceptions, or procedures. Users must read the remaining sections of Subpart 23.5 to determine who is covered, what must be disclosed, and how compliance is measured.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officers
Recognize that this subpart concerns public disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and reduction goals, and consult the operative provisions of Subpart 23.5 when determining whether solicitation or contract requirements are affected.
Contractors
Understand that the FAR subpart addresses public climate-related disclosure topics that may affect corporate reporting or contract performance expectations, and review the rest of the subpart for any specific obligations.
Agencies
Apply the subpart consistently as the framework for any acquisition-related requirements tied to public disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and reduction goals, using the detailed sections of the subpart to implement those requirements.
Practical Implications
This section is mainly a roadmap: it tells you the subpart is about climate disclosure, but you must read the later sections to find the actual obligations.
Contractors should not assume this section alone requires a report; the real compliance duties, if any, come from the implementing provisions in the subpart.
Contracting officers should use this scope statement to identify when a solicitation or contract may implicate GHG disclosure issues and to avoid mixing these requirements with unrelated environmental clauses.
A common pitfall is treating the scope section as if it were a substantive rule; it is not. It only defines the subject matter covered by the subpart.
Because the scope includes both emissions and reduction goals, parties should watch for requirements involving both historical data and future commitments, not just one or the other.
Official Regulatory Text
This subpart addresses public disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and reduction goals.