FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 252: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 252.2
DFARS 252.203-7000 Requirements Relating to Compensation of Former DoD Officials.
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 clause restricts a contractor from knowingly paying certain former DoD officials for two years after they leave DoD service unless the contractor first confirms the official sought a written ethics opinion about post-employment restrictions. If the contractor fails to comply, the contract may be rescinded and the contractor may be suspended or debarred.
Applies to: Contractors paying former DoD officials who meet the clause's definition of 'covered DoD official'
What it requires
- Do not knowingly provide compensation to a covered DoD official within 2 years after the official leaves DoD service without first determining that the official sought and received, or did not receive after 30 days of seeking, a written opinion from the appropriate DoD ethics counselor about post-em
Key terms: Covered DoD official · Compensation · Post-employment restrictions · DoD ethics counselor · Rescission
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
As prescribed in 203.171-4(a), use the following clause:
Requirements Relating to Compensation of Former DoD Officials (SEP 2011)
(a) Definition. Covered DoD official, as used in this clause, means an individual that—
(1) Leaves or left DoD service on or after January 28, 2008; and
(2)(i) Participated personally and substantially in an acquisition as defined in 41 U.S.C. 131 with a value in excess of $10 million, and serves or served—
(A) In an Executive Schedule position under subchapter II of chapter 53 of Title 5, United States Code;
(B) In a position in the Senior Executive Service under subchapter VIII of chapter 53 of Title 5, United States Code; or
(C) In a general or flag officer position compensated at a rate of pay for grade O-7 or above under section 201 of Title 37, United States Code; or
(ii) Serves or served in DoD in one of the following positions: Program manager, deputy program manager, procuring contracting officer, administrative contracting officer, source selection authority, member of the source selection evaluation board, or chief of a financial or technical evaluation team for a contract in an amount in excess of $10 million.
(b) The Contractor shall not knowingly provide compensation to a covered DoD official within 2 years after the official leaves DoD service, without first determining that the official has sought and received, or has not received after 30 days of seeking, a written opinion from the appropriate DoD ethics counselor regarding the applicability of post-employment restrictions to the activities that the official is expected to undertake on behalf of the Contractor.
(c) Failure by the Contractor to comply with paragraph (b) of this clause may subject the Contractor to rescission of this contract, suspension, or debarment in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 2105(c).
(End of clause)
Sections it refers to
- 203.171-4 Solicitation provision and contract clause.
Sections that refer to it
- 203.171-2 Definition.
- 203.171-3 Policy.
- 203.171-4 Solicitation provision and contract clause.
- 212.301 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses for the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services.
- 252.203-7005 Representation Relating to Compensation of Former DoD Officials.
← 252.201-7000 Contracting officer's representative. · 252.203-7001 Prohibition on Persons Convicted of Fraud or Other Defense-Contract-Related Felonies. →
Rule changes for DFARS Part 252
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Modifications to Printed Circuit Board Acquisition Restrictions (DFARS Case 2022-D011) ↗ · proposed 2026-07-02 · comments due 2026-08-31
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Certification Requirement for Military Recruitment Advertising (DFARS Case 2024-D022) ↗ · proposed 2026-06-25 · comments due 2026-08-24
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Small Purchase Exception for the Acquisition of U.S. Flags (DFARS Case 2024-D013) ↗ · proposed 2026-06-25 · comments due 2026-08-24
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Mitigating Risks Related to Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (DFARS Case 2021-D011) ↗ · proposed 2026-05-07 · comments due 2026-07-06
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Assessing Contractor Implementation of Cybersecurity Requirements (DFARS Case 2019-D041) ↗ · final rule 2025-09-10 · effective 2025-11-10
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Limitation on Certain Institutes of Higher Education (DFARS Case 2024-D023); Correction ↗ · final rule 2025-08-28 · effective 2025-08-28
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Disclosure of DoD Funding in Technical Publications (DFARS Case 2024-D003) ↗ · proposed 2025-08-25 · comments due 2025-10-24
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Limitation on Certain Institutes of Higher Education (DFARS Case 2024-D023) ↗ · final rule 2025-08-25 · effective 2025-08-25
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.