FAR 25.301-2—Government support.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 25.301-2 addresses when the Government may provide logistical or security support to contractors, and how that support must be documented in the solicitation and contract. The section starts from the general rule that contractors are responsible for their own logistical and security support, including support for their employees, and then creates a limited exception when Government support is necessary to keep essential contractor services operating. It requires an appropriate agency official, acting under agency guidance, to determine both that the support is available and needed for continuity of essential services, and that the contractor cannot obtain adequate support from other sources at a reasonable cost. It also places a drafting requirement on the contracting officer to identify the exact support being provided and whether the support is reimbursable, including the authority for reimbursement. In practice, this section is about avoiding vague promises of Government support, ensuring support decisions are justified and authorized, and making sure the contract clearly states who provides what, on what terms, and at whose expense.
Key Rules
Contractor provides own support
The default rule is that contractors are responsible for their own logistical and security support, including support for their employees. Government-provided support is the exception, not the norm.
Support only by authorized determination
The agency may provide logistical or security support only when an appropriate agency official, following agency guidance, determines that the support is available and necessary to ensure continuation of essential contractor services.
No reasonable alternative source
Government support is allowed only if the contractor cannot obtain adequate support from other sources at a reasonable cost. This prevents the Government from stepping in when the contractor can reasonably arrange its own support.
Exact support must be stated
The contracting officer must specify in the contract, and in the solicitation if possible, the exact support to be provided. General or open-ended descriptions are not sufficient.
Reimbursement terms must be clear
If the support is provided on a reimbursable basis, the contract must say so and cite the authority for reimbursement. This ensures the payment basis is legally supported and transparent.
Responsibilities
Agency official
Determine, in accordance with agency guidance, whether Government logistical or security support is available and needed to ensure continuation of essential contractor services, and whether the contractor lacks adequate support from other sources at a reasonable cost.
Contracting Officer
State in the solicitation if possible, and in the contract, the exact logistical or security support to be provided; identify whether the support is reimbursable; and cite the authority for reimbursement.
Contractor
Provide its own logistical and security support for its performance and employees unless the Government has expressly agreed to provide specified support under the contract.
Agency
Establish and follow guidance governing when Government logistical or security support may be provided, and ensure support decisions are made only within those limits.
Practical Implications
This section prevents assumptions that the Government will automatically provide housing, transport, guards, communications, or other support just because a contract is overseas or in a difficult environment.
The key risk is vague contract language: if the exact support, reimbursement basis, or authority is not clearly stated, disputes can arise over who pays and what is included.
Contracting officers should confirm that any support arrangement is backed by an actual authorized determination before promising it in the solicitation or contract.
Contractors should not price or plan performance on the expectation of Government support unless the contract expressly identifies that support.
The phrase "essential contractor services" is important in practice: support is intended to preserve critical performance, not to subsidize ordinary contractor convenience.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Generally, contractors are responsible for providing their own logistical and security support, including logistical and security support for their employees. The agency shall provide logistical or security support only when the appropriate agency official, in accordance with agency guidance, determines that- (1) Such Government support is available and is needed to ensure continuation of essential contractor services; and (2) The contractor cannot obtain adequate support from other sources at a reasonable cost. (b) The contracting officer shall specify in the contract, and in the solicitation if possible, the exact support to be provided, and whether this support is provided on a reimbursable basis, citing the authority for the reimbursement.