FAR 9.601—Definition.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 9.601 defines the term "contractor team arrangement" for Subpart 9.6, which governs contractor teaming arrangements. This section covers the two basic forms such arrangements can take: (1) a partnership or joint venture in which two or more companies act together as a potential prime contractor, and (2) a prime contractor-subcontractor relationship in which a potential prime contractor agrees with one or more other companies to support performance under a specified Government contract or acquisition program. The purpose of the definition is to establish the scope of the teaming concepts addressed in the subpart and to distinguish teaming from other business relationships. In practice, this definition matters because it tells contracting officers and contractors when a collaborative arrangement falls within the FAR’s teaming framework, which can affect proposal strategy, responsibility for performance, subcontracting structure, and how the Government evaluates the offeror’s ability to perform. It is a threshold definition, so it does not itself authorize or prohibit teaming, but it sets the boundaries for understanding the rest of Subpart 9.6.
Key Rules
Two recognized teaming forms
The definition covers only two types of contractor team arrangements: a partnership or joint venture acting as a potential prime contractor, and a prime contractor that uses one or more other companies as subcontractors for a specific Government contract or acquisition program.
Potential prime contractor focus
The arrangement must be tied to a potential prime contractor. In other words, the teaming relationship is defined in terms of how companies position themselves to compete for and perform Government work.
Specified contract or program
For the subcontractor-based form, the agreement must relate to a specified Government contract or acquisition program. This limits the definition to teaming tied to a particular procurement context rather than general business alliances.
Definition only, not a rule of conduct
This section defines the term used in the subpart; it does not by itself impose performance, approval, or disclosure requirements. Those obligations, if any, come from other FAR provisions, the solicitation, or the contract.
Joint venture and partnership treated as teaming
When two or more companies combine as a partnership or joint venture to pursue a contract, that relationship is expressly included as a contractor team arrangement for purposes of the subpart.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Recognize when an offeror’s business structure or teaming proposal fits the FAR definition and evaluate the arrangement under the applicable procurement rules, solicitation terms, and responsibility standards.
Potential Prime Contractor
Determine whether its collaboration with other firms is a joint venture/partnership or a subcontracting arrangement tied to a specific Government opportunity, and structure the team accordingly.
Teaming Partners / Subcontractors
Understand whether their role is as part of a joint venture or as a subcontractor supporting a potential prime, and align their agreement with the intended procurement and performance structure.
Agency / Procurement Officials
Apply the definition consistently when drafting solicitations, assessing offeror structures, and distinguishing teaming arrangements from other commercial relationships.
Practical Implications
This definition is important at the proposal stage because it frames how companies may combine capabilities to compete for Government work.
A common pitfall is assuming any business alliance is a FAR contractor team arrangement; the arrangement must fit one of the two defined forms.
Another frequent issue is failing to tie the subcontracting arrangement to a specific Government contract or acquisition program, which can create confusion about whether Subpart 9.6 applies.
Contracting officers should use this definition to identify the team structure early, since joint ventures and prime-sub relationships raise different questions about responsibility, performance, and contract administration.
Contractors should ensure their teaming documents match the intended role of each participant, because inconsistent labels or unclear structure can create evaluation and performance problems.
Official Regulatory Text
Contractor team arrangement , as used in this subpart, means an arrangement in which- (1) Two or more companies form a partnership or joint venture to act as a potential prime contractor; or (2) A potential prime contractor agrees with one or more other companies to have them act as its subcontractors under a specified Government contract or acquisition program.