Overview
Subpart 8.5 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is currently designated as "[Reserved]." This indicates that there are no active regulations, policies, or procedures contained within this specific section at this time.
Key Rules
- No Active Regulation: There are currently no regulatory requirements governing acquisitions under this subpart.
- Placeholder Status: In the FAR, a "Reserved" status means the subpart is being held for future use or that the previous content (historically, this subpart dealt with the Acquisition of Helium) has been relocated or deleted.
- Reference Validity: Because this subpart is reserved, it cannot be cited as a source of authority in solicitations or contract awards.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: There are no specific duties or compliance checks required under this subpart.
- Regulatory Authorities: The FAR Council is responsible for either populating this section with new regulations in the future or maintaining it as a placeholder to preserve the numbering structure of FAR Part 8.
Practical Implications
- Skip During Compliance Reviews: When conducting a regulatory review of FAR Part 8 (Required Sources of Supplies and Services), acquisition professionals can skip Subpart 8.5 entirely.
- Historical Context: If an older contract references FAR 8.5, it likely refers to legacy regulations regarding Helium; however, for all current and future requirements, practitioners should look to the current applicable parts of the FAR (or the Helium Act) rather than this reserved section.
- Document Formatting: If an agency's internal supplement mirrors the FAR structure, they may also mark their equivalent section as reserved to maintain alignment.