FAR 45.5—Subpart 45.5

Prime contractor alternate locations.

FAR 45.501 addresses how the Government can evaluate a prime contractor’s management of Government property when that property is not physically located at the prime contractor’s own facility. Specifically, it covers the property administrator assigned to the prime contract and that administrator’s ability to request support property administration from another contract administration office. The purpose is to make sure Government property held at subcontractors or other alternate locations is properly accounted for, safeguarded, and managed even when the prime contractor does not directly control the site. In practice, this section recognizes that property oversight may require local or specialized support from another office with access to the location where the property is actually being used or stored. It is a coordination rule, not a substantive property-management standard by itself, but it is important because it helps the Government verify compliance across dispersed supply chains and off-site performance locations.

Subcontractor and alternate prime contractor locations.

FAR 45.502 addresses how Government property administration is handled when subcontractor locations or prime contractor alternate locations are involved. It explains when a property administrator assigned to the prime contract may request support property administration from another contract administration office, when prime contractor consent is required, what happens if the prime contractor refuses consent, how findings from a delegated support property administrator must be treated, and how results of property management reviews must be communicated. The section exists to make sure subcontractor property management is properly reviewed and that Government property administration remains effective even when the work is performed away from the prime contractor’s main location. In practice, it balances administrative oversight needs with the prime contractor’s consent rights for subcontractor sites, while preserving the Government’s ability to use support delegations at prime contractor alternate locations without needing consent. For contractors and contracting officers, this section matters because it determines who can inspect, review, and report on property management systems, and how disputes over access to subcontractor locations are escalated and resolved.

Support property administrator findings.

FAR 45.503 addresses what happens when a prime contractor disagrees with the findings of a support Property Administrator. The section is very narrow, but important: it establishes the escalation path for resolving disputes over property administration findings by requiring the prime property administrator to immediately refer the matter to the contracting officer. In practice, this means the support Property Administrator does not have the final word if the prime contractor objects; instead, the issue moves promptly to the contracting officer for resolution. The rule helps ensure consistency, preserves the contracting officer’s authority over contract administration matters, and prevents property administration disagreements from lingering without decision. It is especially significant in contracts involving Government property, where property records, accountability, and disposition decisions can affect performance, compliance, and financial responsibility.