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FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 237: Service Contracting › Subpart 237.1

DFARS 237.102-72 Contracts for management services.

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 DFARS section limits when DoD can award a contract whose main purpose is to provide acquisition support for developing or producing a major system. Such a contract is allowed only if it includes certain restrictions and the Government retains key decision-making. It matters because it restricts what contractors can do and requires specific contract terms.

Applies to: DoD contracts for management services that primarily perform acquisition support functions for a major system's development or production

What it requires

  • The contract must prohibit the contractor from performing inherently governmental functions.
  • The contract must require that the prime contractor may not advise or recommend award of a contract or subcontract for the major system's development or production to an entity the prime contractor owns in whole or in part.

Key terms: management services · acquisition support functions · major system · inherently governmental functions · prime contractor

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

The text

In accordance with Section 802 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Pub. L. 110-181), DoD may award a contract for the acquisition of services the primary purpose of which is to perform acquisition support functions with respect to the development or production of a major system, only if—

(a) The contract prohibits the contractor from performing inherently governmental functions;

(b) The DoD organization responsible for the development or production of the major system ensures that Federal employees are responsible for determining—

(1) Courses of action to be taken in the best interest of the Government; and

(2) Best technical performance for the warfighter; and

(c) The contract requires that the prime contractor for the contract may not advise or recommend the award of a contract or subcontract for the development or production of the major system to an entity owned in whole or in part by the prime contractor.

← 237.102-71 Limitation on service contracts for military flight simulators. · 237.102-73 Prohibition on contracts for services of senior mentors. →

Rule changes for DFARS Part 237

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

DFARS 237.102-72 Contracts for management services · SpendQuery