FAR 7.500—Scope of subpart.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 7.500 is the scope statement for Subpart 7.5, and it sets the basic policy objective for the entire subpart: to make sure inherently governmental functions are not performed by contractors. In practical terms, this section does not itself define every prohibited activity or lay out the full decision process; instead, it tells readers what the subpart is for and frames the later rules that identify, review, and manage work that must remain under government control. The topic covered here is narrow but important: the boundary between work that may be contracted out and work that must be performed by federal employees because it is so closely tied to sovereign authority, public accountability, or core governmental judgment. For contracting officers, program officials, and acquisition planners, the significance is that they must treat this subpart as a guardrail during acquisition planning, requirement development, and contract administration. For contractors, it signals that some tasks may be outside the permissible scope of contract performance even if they are technically feasible or operationally convenient. In short, this section establishes the policy reason for the subpart and the practical need to keep inherently governmental functions in government hands.
Key Rules
Subpart purpose
This subpart exists to prescribe policies and procedures that prevent inherently governmental functions from being performed by contractors. It is the controlling policy statement for the rest of Subpart 7.5.
Government-only functions
The section reflects the principle that certain functions are so tied to governmental authority and discretion that they must remain with government personnel. The scope statement signals that later provisions will protect that boundary.
Planning and oversight focus
Although brief, the section implies that agencies must consider inherently governmental concerns during acquisition planning and oversight, not only after award. The policy is preventive, aimed at avoiding improper contractor performance before it occurs.
Responsibilities
Agencies
Ensure their acquisition policies and procedures keep inherently governmental functions out of contractor performance and support compliance with the subpart's restrictions.
Contracting Officers
Apply the subpart during acquisition planning, solicitation, award, and administration to avoid assigning inherently governmental work to contractors.
Program and Requirement Officials
Identify the work to be performed and distinguish functions that may be contracted from those that must remain government functions.
Contractors
Understand that some tasks are not eligible for contractor performance and avoid proposing or performing work that would intrude on inherently governmental functions.
Practical Implications
This section is a policy flag: it tells acquisition teams to screen requirements early for inherently governmental content before drafting the solicitation.
A common pitfall is assuming that because a task is operationally useful or routinely outsourced, it is automatically suitable for contractor performance; this subpart warns against that assumption.
Contracting officers should use this scope statement as a reminder to coordinate with program offices when work involves discretion, policy judgment, or authority that should remain with federal employees.
Contractors should watch for statements of work that may drift into government decision-making or oversight roles, since those tasks may be improper even if not explicitly labeled as inherently governmental.
Because the section is only a scope statement, users must read the rest of Subpart 7.5 for the detailed rules, definitions, and procedures that implement this policy.
Official Regulatory Text
The purpose of this subpart is to prescribe policies and procedures to ensure that inherently governmental functions are not performed by contractors.