FAR 8.005—Contract clause.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 8.005 tells contracting officers when to include the clause at 52.208-9, Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply and Services, in solicitations and contracts. It applies when the Government is buying supplies or services for Government use and those items appear on the Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, meaning the items must be obtained from the designated mandatory source rather than through open competition. The section also requires the contracting officer to identify in the contract schedule exactly which supplies or services are subject to the mandatory-source requirement and to name the specific source. In practice, this provision ensures compliance with the AbilityOne mandatory-source program, gives contractors clear notice of what must be sourced from the designated nonprofit agency, and reduces the risk of improper purchasing or contract performance disputes. It is a small but important clause-placement rule that connects the solicitation, the contract schedule, and the mandatory sourcing obligation.
Key Rules
Clause must be inserted
The contracting officer must include clause 52.208-9, Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply and Services, in solicitations and contracts when the acquisition requires the contractor to provide supplies or services for Government use that are on the Procurement List.
Applies to Procurement List items
The rule is triggered only for supplies or services that are listed on the Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. If an item is on that list, it is a mandatory source requirement, not a discretionary sourcing choice.
Contract schedule must identify covered items
The contracting officer must identify in the contract schedule the specific supplies or services that must be purchased from a mandatory source. This makes the requirement visible in the contract itself and avoids ambiguity during performance.
Specific source must be named
The contract schedule must also identify the specific mandatory source that will provide the listed supplies or services. Contractors need to know exactly which source to use to comply with the requirement.
Mandatory source controls performance
Once the clause and schedule identify the covered items, the contractor must obtain those items from the designated source rather than selecting another supplier. The requirement is part of contract performance, not just a pre-award administrative note.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Determine whether the acquisition includes supplies or services on the Procurement List; insert clause 52.208-9 in the solicitation and contract when required; and identify in the contract schedule the covered items and the specific mandatory source.
Contractor
Use the designated mandatory source for the identified supplies or services during performance and follow the contract schedule and clause requirements exactly.
Agency/Requirement Owner
Provide accurate requirement information so the contracting officer can determine whether Procurement List items are involved and can describe the covered items clearly in the schedule.
Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
Maintain the Procurement List that identifies supplies and services subject to mandatory-source purchasing requirements.
Practical Implications
This section matters because it turns a statutory sourcing obligation into a contract-level instruction that contractors can follow during performance.
A common pitfall is failing to identify the exact covered items in the schedule, which can lead to confusion, noncompliance, or disputes over whether a purchase had to come from the mandatory source.
Another risk is overlooking that the Procurement List can change; contracting officers should verify the current list before award and when modifying contracts.
Contractors should not assume they may substitute another vendor if the mandatory source is unavailable without first addressing the issue through the contracting officer and applicable procedures.
For contracting officers, clear schedule language is essential: the clause alone is not enough if the contract does not specify which items are covered and who the mandatory source is.
Official Regulatory Text
Insert the clause at 52.208-9 , Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply and Services, in solicitations and contracts that require a contractor to provide supplies or services for Government use that are on the Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. The contracting officer shall identify in the contract schedule the supplies or services that shall be purchased from a mandatory source and the specific source.