Why Part 24 Matters

Contractors operating systems of records containing personal information face Privacy Act compliance obligations and potential criminal penalties for violations. Understanding FOIA protections is critical for contractors submitting proprietary data, trade secrets, and confidential business information — agencies must apply Exemption 4 correctly to protect legitimately confidential contractor data from public disclosure.

Key Topics in Part 24

FAR Part 24 addresses several critical areas of the federal acquisition process. Understanding these topics is essential for both contracting officers and contractors working within this regulatory framework.

• Privacy Act compliance for contractor-operated systems (Subpart 24.1)
• Systems of records on individuals
• Freedom of Information Act procedures (Subpart 24.2)
• FOIA Exemption 4 — confidential business information
• Trade secret and proprietary data protections
• Contractor employee privacy obligations

How FAR Part 24 Applies

The Federal Acquisition Regulation is organized into 53 parts, each covering a distinct area of the procurement process. Part 24 (Protection of Privacy and Freedom of Information) is part of this framework and works in conjunction with other FAR parts to create a comprehensive regulatory structure. Contracting officers must comply with all applicable parts when executing procurement actions, and contractors must understand the requirements that flow from these regulations into their contracts.

The requirements in Part 24 may be implemented through specific contract clauses prescribed in FAR Part 52. When a clause references Part 24, the substantive requirements originate here, while Part 52 provides the actual clause language incorporated into contracts and solicitations.

Subparts

FAR Part 24 is divided into 3 subparts, each addressing a specific aspect of protection of privacy and freedom of information.

• 24.1 — Protection of Individual Privacy
• 24.2 — Freedom of Information Act
• 24.3 — Privacy Training

Reading FAR Part 24

The full text of FAR Part 24 is available on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The eCFR provides the most current version of the regulation, including any recent amendments published through Federal Acquisition Circulars (FACs). For historical versions, use the eCFR's point-in-time search feature.

• What does FAR Part 24 cover?

  FAR Part 24 covers protection of privacy and freedom of information within the federal acquisition process. FAR Part 24 addresses the protection of privacy and freedom of information in federal contracting. Subpart 24.1 implements the Privacy Act of 1974 requirements when contractors design, develop, or operate systems of records on behalf of agencies. Subpart 24.2 covers Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) procedures as they relate to contractor-submitted information and the handling of requests for information contained in contract files.

• Who must comply with FAR Part 24?

  FAR Part 24 applies to all executive branch agencies conducting acquisitions, unless a specific exemption exists. Contractors must comply with the requirements that are incorporated into their contracts through prescribed clauses from FAR Part 52. Agency-specific supplements (DFARS, GSAM, etc.) may add additional requirements beyond the base FAR.

• Where can I read the full text of FAR Part 24?

  The full text is available on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). You can also access it through acquisition.gov, which is maintained by the General Services Administration. Both sources reflect the most current version of the regulation.

• How does FAR Part 24 relate to contract clauses?

  FAR Part 24 establishes the substantive policies and procedures. The actual clause language that gets incorporated into contracts is found in FAR Part 52. Each clause in Part 52 includes a "prescription" that references the relevant policy part, creating a direct link between the requirement and its implementation in the contract.