FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 17: Special Contracting Methods › Subpart 17.6
FAR 17.601 Definition.
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 defines what a management and operating contract is under the FAR. It matters to contractors because it clarifies the type of agreement the Government uses when it contracts for the operation, maintenance, or support of certain Government-owned or -controlled establishments. If your work involves running or supporting a major research, development, special production, or testing facility for a Federal agency, this definition may apply to you.
Applies to: Contractors involved with Government-owned or -controlled research, development, special production, or testing establishments
Key terms: Management and operating contract · Government-owned or -controlled · research, development, special production, or testing establishment · major programs · contracting Federal agency
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
Management and operating contract means an agreement under which the Government contracts for the operation, maintenance, or support, on its behalf, of a Government-owned or -controlled research, development, special production, or testing establishment wholly or principally devoted to one or more major programs of the contracting Federal agency.
Sections that refer to it
- 17.604 Identifying management and operating contracts.
← 17.600 Scope of subpart. · 17.602 Policy. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2025-05-12 · effective 2025-06-11
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · proposed 2024-11-29 · comments due 2025-01-28
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Prohibition on the Use of Reverse Auctions for Complex, Specialized, or Substantial Design and Construction Services ↗ · proposed 2024-08-29 · comments due 2024-10-28
- Federal Acquisition Regulation; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-07-30 · effective 2024-08-29
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Reverse Auction Guidance ↗ · final rule 2024-07-30 · effective 2024-08-29
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.