FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 22: Application of Labor Laws to Government Acquisitions › Subpart 22.2

FAR 22.201 General.

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 explains that Executive Order 11755, as amended, encourages the development of job skills for prison inmates but also aims to prevent exploitation of convict labor and unfair competition with free labor. It clarifies that contractors may employ certain categories of individuals with criminal records, such as those on parole or probation, without violating the order. For nonfederal prisoners in work-release programs, specific conditions must be met, including voluntary participation, consultation with labor unions, and certification by the Attorney General.

Applies to: Contractors performing federal contracts

What it requires

  • Ensure that nonfederal prisoner workers are paid or in an approved work training program on a voluntary basis
  • Consult with representatives of local union central bodies or similar labor union organizations
  • Ensure that paid employment will not result in displacement of employed workers, be applied in skills/crafts/trades with a surplus of available gainful labor in the locality, or impair existing contracts for services
  • Ensure that rates of pay and other conditions of employment are not less than those for work of a similar nature in the locality

Key terms: Executive Order 11755 · parole · probation · work-release laws · Attorney General

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

The text

(a) Executive Order 11755, December 29, 1973, as amended by Executive Order 12608, September 9, 1987, and Executive Order 12943, December 13, 1994, states: “The development of the occupational and educational skills of prison inmates is essential to their rehabilitation and to their ability to make an effective return to free society. Meaningful employment serves to develop those skills. It is also true, however, that care must be exercised to avoid either the exploitation of convict labor or any unfair competition between convict labor and free labor in the production of goods and services.” The Executive order does not prohibit the contractor, in performing the contract, from employing—

(1) Persons on parole or probation;

(2) Persons who have been pardoned or who have served their terms;

(3) Federal prisoners; or

(4) Nonfederal prisoners authorized to work at paid employment in the community under the laws of a jurisdiction listed in the Executive order if—

(i) The worker is paid or is in an approved work training program on a voluntary basis;

(ii) Representatives of local union central bodies or similar labor union organizations have been consulted;

(iii) Paid employment will not—

(A) Result in the displacement of employed workers;

(B) Be applied in skills, crafts, or trades in which there is a surplus of available gainful labor in the locality; or

(C) Impair existing contracts for services;

(iv) The rates of pay and other conditions of employment will not be less than those for work of a similar nature in the locality where the work is being performed; and

(v) The Attorney General of the United States has certified that the work-release laws or regulations of the jurisdiction involved are in conformity with the requirements of Executive Order 11755, as amended.

(b) Department of Justice regulations authorize the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to exercise the power and authority vested in the Attorney General by the Executive order to certify and to revoke the certification of work-release laws or regulations (see 28 CFR 0.94-1(b)).

← 22.103-5 Contract clauses. · 22.202 Contract clause. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 22

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

FAR 22.201 General · SpendQuery