DFARS Part 223: Environment, Sustainable Acquisition, and Material Safety

In plain English

DFARS Part 223 covers environment, sustainable acquisition, and material safety requirements for DoD contracts. It addresses recovered materials, ozone-depleting substances, hazardous material identification, ammunition and explosives safety, greenhouse gas disclosure, toxic/hazardous material storage, arms/ammunition/explosives security, hexavalent chromium prohibition, and PFAS fire-fighting agent prohibition. These rules matter to contractors because they impose specific prohibitions, required clauses, and safety procedures that affect bidding and performance.

Key rules

• DoD contracts cannot require the use of class I ozone-depleting substances unless specifically authorized at a high level. (223.107-4)
• Contracting officers must provide hazard warning labels from apparent successful offerors to the safety officer. (223.302)
• The clause at 252.223-7001, Hazard Warning Labels, must be used when hazardous material data sheets are required. (223.304)
• Safety precautions for ammunition and explosives apply to all acquisitions involving their use, and require specific contract clauses. (223.370-1, 223.370-5)
• Contracting officers must not require nontraditional defense contractors to disclose greenhouse gas emissions as a condition of award. (223.501-70)
• Storage, treatment, or disposal of toxic or hazardous materials not owned by DoD on a DoD installation is prohibited unless an exception applies. (223.7102, 223.7103)
• Contracts may not include specifications that result in deliverables containing more than 0.1 percent hexavalent chromium by weight where proven substitutes are available. (223.7303)
• Do not procure fire-fighting agents containing perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances in excess of one part per billion, except for use solely onboard ocean-going vessels. (223.7402)

Who does what

In practice

• When bidding on DoD contracts involving ammunition, explosives, or AA&E, you must comply with safety and security manuals and clauses, which may require additional planning and costs.
• If your contract involves hazardous materials, you must provide material safety data sheets and hazard warning labels, and the contracting officer will share labels with the safety officer.
• For contracts with access to DoD installations, you cannot store, treat, or dispose of toxic or hazardous materials not owned by DoD unless an exception applies, and the contract must specify types and quantities if authorized.
• If you supply items that may contain hexavalent chromium or PFAS fire-fighting agents, you must ensure they meet the prohibitions or qualify for an exception, and the relevant clause will be included.

Common pitfalls

• Assuming you can use class I ozone-depleting substances in performance without specific high-level authorization; the restriction applies to all DoD contracts regardless of place of performance.
• Failing to provide hazard warning labels or material safety data sheets when required, which could lead to noncompliance with the clause at 252.223-7001.
• Storing toxic or hazardous materials not owned by DoD on a DoD installation without checking for an exception, which is prohibited by 10 U.S.C. 2692 and DFARS 223.7102.
• Including hexavalent chromium in deliverables above 0.1 percent by weight when proven substitutes are available, unless an exception or authorization applies.

Written by AI from this part's codified text (2026-10-04); cited sections are checked against the part. A guide, not legal advice: the regulation text, the solicitation and your contract rule.