FAR 50—Extraordinary Contractual Actions and the Safety Act

Scope of part.

FAR 50.000 explains the scope of FAR Part 50, which is the government’s special authority for extraordinary contractual actions in support of national defense and homeland security. This section tells readers that Part 50 covers policies and procedures for entering into, amending, or modifying contracts under Public Law 85-804 and Executive Order 10789 when necessary to facilitate the national defense during an extraordinary emergency. It also makes clear that Part 50 does not cover advance payments, which are handled separately under FAR subpart 32.4. In addition, the section extends Part 50 to indemnification authority under Pub. L. 85-804 and E.O. 10789 for matters that have been, or could be, designated as qualified anti-terrorism technologies under the SAFETY Act. Finally, it states that Part 50 implements SAFETY Act liability protections to encourage the development and use of anti-terrorism technologies. In practice, this part is a narrow, exceptional toolset for unusual national security or anti-terrorism situations, not a routine contracting mechanism.

Subpart 50.1

Subpart 50.2