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FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 237: Service Contracting › Subpart 237.5

DFARS 237.503 Agency-head responsibilities.

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 requires agency heads or their designees to use procedures that vet and approve service contract requirements, to prevent contracts from being awarded or administered as unauthorized personal services contracts. Contracting officers must follow PGI 237.503, include substantially similar certifications with service contract requirements, and place the certification in the contract file. It matters because it creates a safeguard against service contracts inadvertently becoming personal-services contracts.

Applies to: Agency heads, designees, contracting officers, and program managers involved in service contracts

What it requires

  • Employ procedures to ensure service contract requirements are vetted and approved
  • Follow the procedures at PGI 237.503
  • Include substantially similar certifications in conjunction with service contract requirements
  • Place the certification in the contract file

Key terms: personal services contract · certification · contract file · service contract · PGI 237.503

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

The text

(c) The agency head or designee shall employ procedures to ensure that requirements for service contracts are vetted and approved as a safeguard to prevent contracts from being awarded or administered in a manner that constitutes an unauthorized personal services contract. Contracting officers shall follow the procedures at PGI 237.503, include substantially similar certifications in conjunction with service contract requirements, and place the certification in the contract file. The program manager or other official responsible for the requirement, at a level specified by the agency, should execute the certification. In addition, contracting officers and program managers should remain aware of the descriptive elements at FAR 37.104(d) to ensure that a service contract does not inadvertently become administered as a personal-services contract.

Sections it refers to

  • 37.104 Personal services contracts.

Sections that refer to it

  • 237.104 Personal services contracts.

← 237.271 Consulting services. · 237.7000 Scope. →

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 237.503 Agency-head responsibilities · SpendQuery