FAR 8.716—Change-of-name and successor in interest procedures.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 8.716 addresses the administrative procedure for handling a name change or a successor-in-interest situation involving an AbilityOne participating nonprofit agency that provides supplies or services on the Procurement List. The section explains when the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (the Committee) recognizes such a change, how the Committee must notify affected contracting officers, and what the contracting officer must do after receiving that notice. In practice, this rule ensures that contract records, award documents, and distribution lists stay aligned with the current legal identity of the nonprofit agency performing the work. It also helps prevent confusion about which entity is entitled to perform, invoice, or receive payments under existing contracts. The section is administrative rather than substantive: it does not itself decide whether a name change or succession is valid, but it requires the contracting officer to document and circulate the change once the Committee has recognized it. For contractors and agencies, the practical significance is that a recognized change must be promptly reflected across all affected contracts using an SF 30 and a contract list, with a copy sent back to the Committee.
Key Rules
Committee notice triggers action
When the Committee recognizes a name change or successor in interest for an AbilityOne participating nonprofit agency on the Procurement List, it must notify the cognizant contracting officers. That notice is the trigger for the contracting officer’s required administrative actions.
Contracting officer prepares SF 30
After receiving the Committee’s notice, the contracting officer must prepare Standard Form 30, Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract. The SF 30 must include a summary of the notice and attach a list of the affected contracts.
Affected contracts must be identified
The contracting officer must attach a list of all contracts affected by the change. This ensures the modification is tied to the correct awards and that the change is applied consistently across the contract portfolio.
Distribution is required
The contracting officer must distribute the SF 30 after preparation, including sending a copy to the Committee. This creates an official record and keeps the Committee informed of implementation.
Applies to Procurement List items
This procedure applies specifically to AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies providing supplies or services on the Procurement List. It is not a general FAR successor-in-interest rule for all contractors.
Responsibilities
Committee
Recognize the name change or successor in interest for the AbilityOne participating nonprofit agency and provide notice of the change to the cognizant contracting officers.
Contracting Officer
Upon receipt of the Committee’s notice, prepare an SF 30 summarizing the notice, attach a list of affected contracts, and distribute the SF 30, including a copy to the Committee.
AbilityOne Participating Nonprofit Agency
Ensure that any name change or successor-in-interest matter is properly presented to and recognized by the Committee so the contracting officer can update contract records and modifications.
Cognizant Contracting Officers
Receive the Committee’s notice and implement the required contract administration actions for the contracts under their responsibility.
Practical Implications
This is a records-and-notification process, so the main day-to-day task is making sure the contract file, modification, and distribution list are updated promptly after the Committee acts.
A common pitfall is failing to attach a complete list of affected contracts to the SF 30, which can leave some awards unmodified and create confusion later.
Another risk is treating the change as effective before the Committee’s notice is received; under this section, the contracting officer’s action is triggered by the Committee’s recognition and notice.
Contracting officers should verify that the SF 30 summary accurately reflects the Committee notice and that a copy is sent back to the Committee to close the loop.
For contractors, the practical impact is that a recognized name change or succession should not be assumed to automatically update all contract documents; the contracting officer must still issue the formal modification.
Official Regulatory Text
When the Committee recognizes a name change or a successor in interest for an AbilityOne participating nonprofit agency providing supplies or services on the Procurement List- (a) The Committee will provide a notice of a change to the Procurement List to the cognizant contracting officers; and (b) Upon receipt of a notice of a change to the Procurement List from the Committee, the contracting officer must- (1) Prepare a Standard Form (SF) 30 , Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract, incorporating a summary of the notice and attaching a list of contracts affected; and (2) Distribute the SF 30 , including a copy to the Committee.