FAR 47.105—Transportation assistance.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 47.105 explains where federal activities should go for transportation assistance when they need help with shipping, freight movement, routing, carrier issues, or other transportation-related matters. It distinguishes between civilian Government activities and military installations, and it identifies the specific offices that are responsible for providing that support. For civilian activities, the rule points to either the supporting GSA Regional Federal Supply Service Bureau or the transportation element of the designated contract administration office. For military installations, the default source is the transportation office of the contracting activity, unless another military activity has been assigned that role. The section also addresses escalation: military transportation offices are expected to seek additional help from the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) when needed. In practice, this section exists to make sure agencies know exactly where to obtain transportation expertise so contracts, shipments, and logistics issues are handled consistently and without delay.
Key Rules
Civilian activities seek GSA help
Civilian Government activities that do not have their own transportation officers, or that otherwise need transportation assistance, must obtain support from the GSA Regional Federal Supply Service Bureau serving the activity. This creates a default civilian support channel for transportation questions and problems.
Alternative civilian support source
If applicable, a civilian activity may obtain transportation assistance from the transportation element of the contract administration office designated in the contract. The contract’s administration structure therefore matters when determining the correct support office.
Military installations use contracting activity office
Military installations must obtain transportation assistance from the transportation office of the contracting activity by default. This applies unless a different military activity has been designated to provide assistance, guidance, or data.
Designated military exceptions control
If another military activity has been formally assigned responsibility for transportation assistance, that designation overrides the default rule. Users must check whether such a designation exists before going to the contracting activity’s transportation office.
Escalate to SDDC when needed
Military transportation offices must request additional assistance from the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) when local support is not enough. This ensures access to higher-level transportation expertise and resources.
Responsibilities
Civilian Government activity
Identify whether it has a transportation officer or needs transportation help, and then obtain assistance from the appropriate GSA Regional Federal Supply Service Bureau or the transportation element of the designated contract administration office.
GSA Regional Federal Supply Service Bureau
Provide transportation assistance to civilian Government activities within its support area when those activities lack transportation officers or otherwise need transportation-related support.
Contract administration office transportation element
Provide transportation assistance to civilian activities when that office is designated in the contract as the support source for transportation matters.
Military installation
Seek transportation assistance from the transportation office of the contracting activity unless another military activity has been designated to provide that support.
Transportation office of the contracting activity
Serve as the default transportation support office for military installations and provide assistance, guidance, or data unless a different military activity has been assigned that role.
Other designated military activity
Provide transportation assistance, guidance, or data when formally designated as responsible for that function in place of the contracting activity’s transportation office.
Military transportation office
Request additional aid from SDDC when local transportation support is insufficient or specialized assistance is required.
Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC)
Provide additional transportation assistance to military transportation offices when requested.
Practical Implications
This section is mainly a routing rule: it tells personnel where to go first for transportation help, which reduces delays and confusion when logistics issues arise.
Contractors should pay attention to the contract administration structure and any designated support offices, because the correct transportation point of contact may vary by contract and agency.
A common pitfall is assuming the same support channel applies to both civilian and military activities; FAR 47.105 uses different default paths for each.
Another frequent issue is overlooking a formal designation that shifts responsibility to another military activity, so users should verify any agency-specific instructions or delegations.
For military users, the rule anticipates escalation to SDDC, so local offices should not hesitate to seek higher-level support when shipment or transportation problems exceed their authority or expertise.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Civilian Government activities that do not have transportation officers, or otherwise need assistance on transportation matters, shall obtain assistance from- (1) The GSA Regional Federal Supply Service Bureau that provides support to the activity or (2) The transportation element of the contract administration office designated in the contract. (b) Military installations shall obtain transportation assistance from the transportation office of the contracting activity, unless another military activity has been designated as responsible for furnishing assistance, guidance, or data. Military transportation offices shall request needed additional aid from the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC).