FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 252: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 252.2
DFARS 252.239-7016 Telecommunications security equipment, devices, techniques, and 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 clause requires the contractor to secure telecommunications systems that carry classified or sensitive information, using only Government-approved equipment, devices, techniques, or services. It matters because the contractor must supply whatever security items are needed, meet ownership eligibility conditions for controlled cryptographic items, and flow the clause down to qualifying subcontracts.
Applies to: Contractors and subcontractors whose telecommunications systems transmit classified or sensitive information under this contract
What it requires
- Secure information and systems at the location identified in the contract
- Use Government-approved telecommunications equipment, devices, techniques, or services
- Ensure used equipment, devices, techniques, or services are compatible or interoperable with the listed systems
- Furnish all telecommunications security equipment, devices, techniques, or services necessary to perform the contract, except as provided elsewhere in the contract
Key terms: Securing · Sensitive information · Telecommunications systems · Government-approved · Controlled cryptographic items
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
As prescribed in 239.7411(d), use the following clause:
Telecommunications Security Equipment, Devices, Techniques, and Services (DEC 1991)
(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—
(1) Securing means the application of Government-approved telecommunications security equipment, devices, techniques, or services to contractor telecommunications systems.
(2) Sensitive information means any information the loss, misuse, or modification of which, or unauthorized access to, could adversely affect the national interest or the conduct of Federal programs, or the privacy to which individuals are entitled under 5 U.S.C. 552a (the Privacy Act), but which has not been specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive Order or Act of Congress to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy.
(3) Telecommunications systems means voice, record, and data communications, including management information systems and local data networks that connect to external transmission media, when employed by Government agencies, contractors, and subcontractors to transmit—
(i) Classified or sensitive information;
(ii) Matters involving intelligence activities, cryptologic activities related to national security, the command and control of military forces, or equipment that is an integral part of a weapon or weapons system; or
(iii) Matters critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions.
(b) This solicitation/contract identifies classified or sensitive information that requires securing during telecommunications and requires the Contractor to secure telecommunications systems. The Contractor agrees to secure information and systems at the following location: (Identify the location.)
(c) To provide the security, the Contractor shall use Government-approved telecommunications equipment, devices, techniques, or services. A list of the approved equipment, etc. may be obtained from (identify where list can be obtained). Equipment, devices, techniques, or services used by the Contractor must be compatible or interoperable with (list and identify the location of any telecommunications security equipment, device, technique, or service currently being used by the technical or requirements organization or other offices with which the Contractor must communicate).
(d) Except as may be provided elsewhere in this contract, the Contractor shall furnish all telecommunications security equipment, devices, techniques, or services necessary to perform this contract. The Contractor must meet ownership eligibility conditions for communications security equipment designated as controlled cryptographic items.
(e) The Contractor agrees to include this clause, including this paragraph (e), in all subcontracts which require securing telecommunications.
(End of clause)
Sections it refers to
- 239.7411 Contract clauses.
← 252.239-7015 [Reserved] · 252.239-7017 Notice of Supply Chain Risk. →
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.