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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs › Subpart 11.1

FAR 11.106 Purchase descriptions for service contracts.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This section tells agencies how to write purchase descriptions for service contracts so that inherently governmental functions are not given to contractors. It matters to contractors because it sets expectations for how their personnel must be identified and how their documents must be marked when working on such contracts.

Applies to: Agency requiring activities drafting purchase descriptions for service contracts

What it requires

  • Ensure inherently governmental functions are not assigned to a contractor
  • Reserve final determination for Government officials
  • Require proper identification of contractor personnel in specified situations unless the agency judges no harm can come from failing to identify themselves
  • Require suitable marking of all documents or reports produced by contractors

Key terms: inherently governmental functions · purchase descriptions · service contracts · contractor personnel · final determination

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

In drafting purchase descriptions for service contracts, agency requiring activities shall ensure that inherently governmental functions (see subpart 7.5) are not assigned to a contractor. These purchase descriptions shall

(a) Reserve final determination for Government officials;

(b) Require proper identification of contractor personnel who attend meetings, answer Government telephones, or work in situations where their actions could be construed as acts of Government officials unless, in the judgment of the agency, no harm can come from failing to identify themselves; and

(c) Require suitable marking of all documents or reports produced by contractors.

← 11.105 Items peculiar to one manufacturer. · 11.107 Solicitation provision. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 11

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 11.106 Purchase descriptions for service contracts · SpendQuery