Overview
FAR 37.500 defines the scope of Subpart 37.5, which establishes the management and oversight responsibilities for federal service contracting. It identifies Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Policy Letter 93-1 as the primary regulatory driver for these requirements.
Key Rules
- Regulatory Implementation: Formally integrates the requirements of OFPP Policy Letter 93-1, "Management Oversight of Service Contracting," into the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
- Focus on Oversight: Shifts the emphasis from the simple act of procurement to the ongoing management and accountability of service-related outcomes.
- Responsibility Framework: Establishes that specific agency responsibilities must be defined to ensure service contracts are managed effectively and in the best interest of the government.
Practical Implications
- Active Management: Agencies cannot treat service contracts as "set it and forget it" activities; they must implement structured oversight to monitor contractor performance.
- Accountability: Contracting officers and program managers must ensure that service contracts are not used to perform inherently governmental functions and that the government maintains control over the work being performed.