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FAR 52.208-9 — Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply or Services

Contract clause · dated May 2014 · prescribed in FAR 8.005 · current through FAC 2026-01

In plain English

FAR 52.208-9, Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply or Services, is a contract clause prescribed at FAR 8.005, most recently dated May 2014. The complete official text is reproduced below, verbatim, from GSA's published FAR source files.

Its text contains no sentence requiring insertion into subcontracts; see the flowdown section below for what that does and does not mean.

Does it flow down to subcontracts?

No flowdown mandate found in the clause text

We scanned the full clause text and found no sentence directing the contractor to insert this clause into subcontracts. That is a statement about the text, not legal advice: a prime contractor may still flow terms down contractually, an agency supplement (DFARS, VAAR, …) may add requirements, and clauses listed below (if any) may order this clause into subcontracts from the outside.

Where it's prescribed

As prescribed in 8.005 , insert the following clause:

Prescribing reference: FAR 8.005.

The official text, verbatim

FAR 52.208-9 · May 2014 current through FAC 2026-01 acquisition.gov eCFR (48 CFR)

As prescribed in 8.005 , insert the following clause:

Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply or Services (May 2014)

  • (a) Certain supplies or services to be provided under this contract for use by the Government are required by law to be obtained from nonprofit agencies participating in the program operated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (the Committee) under 41 U.S.C. 8504. Additionally, certain of these supplies are available from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the General Services Administration (GSA), or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Contractor shall obtain mandatory supplies or services to be provided for Government use under this contract from the specific sources indicated in the contract schedule.

  • (b) The Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer if a mandatory source is unable to provide the supplies or services by the time required, or if the quality of supplies or services provided by the mandatory source is unsatisfactory. The Contractor shall not purchase the supplies or services from other sources until the Contracting Officer has notified the Contractor that the Committee or an AbilityOne central nonprofit agency has authorized purchase from other sources.

  • (c) Price and delivery information for the mandatory supplies is available from the Contracting Officer for the supplies obtained through the DLA/GSA/VA distribution facilities. For mandatory supplies or services that are not available from DLA/GSA/VA, price and delivery information is available from the appropriate central nonprofit agency. Payments shall be made directly to the source making delivery. Points of contact for AbilityOne central nonprofit agencies are:

    • (1) National Industries for the Blind 1310 Braddock Place Alexandria, VA 22314-1691 (703) 310-0500; and

    • (2) NISH 8401 Old Courthouse Road Vienna, VA 22182 (571) 226-4660.

(End of clause)

The text above is reproduced from GSA's published FAR source files (GSA/GSA-Acquisition-FAR @ da52ccb (2026-03-30)), retrieved 2026-07-17. The official publication at acquisition.gov / eCFR controls if they differ.