FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 24: Protection of Privacy and Freedom of Information › Subpart 24.1
FAR 24.102 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 when an agency contracts for the design, development, or operation of a system of records on individuals to accomplish an agency function, the agency must apply the requirements of the Act to the contractor and its employees. Contractors and their employees working on such contracts are treated as agency employees for the Act's criminal penalties, and the system of records is deemed maintained by the agency. Agencies that fail to require conformance with the Act may be civilly liable to injured individuals.
Applies to: Agencies and contractors working on systems of records on individuals
What it requires
- The agency must apply the requirements of the Act to the contractor and its employees working on the contract.
Key terms: system of records on individuals · the Act · criminal penalties · civilly liable
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) The Act requires that when an agency contracts for the design, development, or operation of a system of records on individuals on behalf of the agency to accomplish an agency function the agency must apply the requirements of the Act to the contractor and its employees working on the contract.
(b) An agency officer or employee may be criminally liable for violations of the Act. When the contract provides for operation of a system of records on individuals, contractors and their employees are considered employees of the agency for purposes of the criminal penalties of the Act.
(c) If a contract specifically provides for the design, development, or operation of a system of records on individuals on behalf of an agency to accomplish an agency function, the agency must apply the requirements of the Act to the contractor and its employees working on the contract. The system of records operated under the contract is deemed to be maintained by the agency and is subject to the Act.
(d) Agencies, which within the limits of their authorities, fail to require that systems of records on individuals operated on their behalf under contracts be operated in conformance with the Act may be civilly liable to individuals injured as a consequence of any subsequent failure to maintain records in conformance with the Act.
← 24.101 Definitions. · 24.103 Procedures. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 24
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 5, 24, and 29 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.