FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 45: Government Property › Subpart 45.6
FAR 45.603 Abandonment or destruction of personal property.
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 when contractor inventory that has no commercial value, does not need demilitarization, and is not a danger to public health or welfare may be destroyed or abandoned instead of being sold or reused. It also allows donation of such property to public bodies, with the Government bearing none of the donation costs. Contractors should understand that abandonment or destruction can happen without further approval in some cases, but other cases require higher-level Government approval and public notice.
Applies to: Contractor inventory held at contractor or subcontractor premises
What it requires
- Ensure prior public notice of abandonment or destruction actions unless an exception under FMR 102-36.330 applies
- Obtain contractor consent before sensitive property is abandoned at the contractor's or subcontractor's premises
Key terms: contractor inventory · abandonment · destruction · demilitarization · sensitive property
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) When contractor inventory is processed through the reutilization screening process prescribed in 45.602-2 without success, and provided the property has no commercial value, does not require demilitarization, and does not constitute a danger to public health or welfare, plant clearance officers or other authorized officials may without further approval—
(1) Direct the contractor to destroy the property;
(2) Abandon non-sensitive property at the contractor's or subcontractor's premises; or
(3) Abandon sensitive property at the contractor's or subcontractor's premises, with contractor consent.
(b) Provided a Government reviewing official at least one level higher than the plant clearance officer or other agency authorized official approves, plant clearance officers or other agency authorized officials may authorize the abandonment, or order the destruction of other contractor inventory at the contractor's or subcontractor's premises, in accordance with FMR 102-36.305 through 325 (41 CFR 102-36.305-325) and consistent with the following:
(1) The property is not considered sensitive, does not require demilitarization, has no commercial value or reutilization, transfer or donation potential, and does not constitute a danger to public health or welfare.
(2) The estimated cost of continued care and handling of the property (including advertising, storage and other costs associated with making the sale), exceed the estimated proceeds from its sale.
(c) In lieu of abandonment or its authorized destruction, the plant clearance officer or authorized official may authorize the donation of property including unsold surplus property to public bodies, provided that the property is not sensitive property, does not require demilitarization, and it does not constitute a danger to public health or welfare. The Government will not bear any of the costs incident to such donations.
(d) Unless the property qualifies for one of the exceptions under FMR 102-36.330 (41 CFR 102-36.330), the plant clearance officer or requesting official will ensure prior public notice of such actions of abandonment or destruction consistent with FMR 102-36.325 (41 CFR 102-36.325).
Sections it refers to
- 45.602-2 Reutilization priorities.
← 45.602-4 Interagency property transfer costs. · 45.604 Sale of surplus personal property. →
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.