FAR Subpart 22.17 Combating Trafficking in Persons (Verified 2026)

FAR Subpart 22.17 establishes the U.S. Government’s contracting policy for combating trafficking in persons across federal acquisitions. For contractors, it is a practical compliance framework that affects how you recruit, manage labor brokers, handle worker housing and transportation, flow down requirements to subcontractors, and respond when credible allegations arise. The subpart applies broadly across acquisitions, and it becomes especially high-impact when your contract includes overseas performance or overseas supply acquisition, where additional certification and compliance plan expectations can be triggered. (acquisition.gov)

What Subpart 22.17 applies to

The subpart applies to all acquisitions, which is why even domestic contractors should treat it as a standard part of clause review and onboarding. The more intensive requirement for a certification and compliance plan applies only to any portion of a contract or subcontract that involves supplies (other than COTS) acquired outside the United States or services performed outside the United States, and that portion is expected to exceed $700,000. (acquisition.gov)

The key FAR clause and provision you will see in RFPs

Most solicitations operationalize Subpart 22.17 through:

• FAR 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons: required in all solicitations and contracts. This is the enforceable clause that lists prohibited conduct and contractor responsibilities. (acquisition.gov)
• FAR 52.222-56, Certification Regarding Trafficking in Persons Compliance Plan: used when the solicitation triggers the overseas and value threshold condition, requiring the apparent successful offeror to certify a compliance plan is implemented and due diligence has been performed. (Legal Information Institute)

What the FAR expects contractors to prohibit and control

Subpart 22.17 is designed to prevent labor exploitation and trafficking-related activity connected to contract performance. In practice, this means contractors should proactively control the highest-risk points:

• Recruitment and onboarding practices, including recruiter behavior and worker fee risks
• Use of agents, labor brokers, and subcontractors, including monitoring and termination rights
• Worker communications that are understandable and accessible
• Escalation channels that allow safe reporting without retaliation

Even when your work is domestic, these controls matter because federal contracting often relies on multi-tier supplier networks, staffing vendors, and subcontract labor.

Violations, credible information, and remedies

Subpart 22.17 includes a structured response mechanism when credible information indicates a possible violation. Contracting officers can direct contractors to take steps to abate the alleged violation or enforce compliance plan requirements, and the framework includes coordination with agency oversight functions such as the Inspector General and suspension/debarment stakeholders. The practical lesson is that your program should be built to show two things quickly: you had controls in place, and you acted immediately and credibly when an issue surfaced. (acquisition.gov)

2026-ready compliance checklist (copy-paste)

Pre-award

• Confirm whether any portion of the scope involves supplies acquired outside the United States or services performed outside the United States
• Check whether the threshold condition applies to any portion expected to exceed $700,000 and whether COTS exceptions apply
• Identify recruiters, staffing partners, and labor brokers that could touch the project
• Create a clause ownership map for 52.222-50 and 52.222-56 across Legal, HR, Supply Chain, and Program Management

Post-award and delivery

• Train employees and agents on prohibited activities and reporting procedures
• Implement a reporting channel and escalation workflow tied to contract leadership
• Maintain due diligence evidence for subcontractor screening and monitoring
• Enforce contractual termination and corrective action rights for noncompliant agents/subcontractors

Subcontractors

• Flow down anti-trafficking requirements where applicable and require written compliance confirmations
• Ensure overseas subcontract portions meeting the threshold condition follow the certification and compliance plan expectations

Mini-template: trafficking compliance plan outline

• Policy statement and prohibited conduct list
• Recruitment controls, approved recruiter list, and worker fee prohibition controls
• Worker onboarding communication plan and reporting channel
• Housing and transportation controls where relevant
• Subcontractor due diligence and monitoring steps
• Incident intake and response workflow, including abatement actions
• Recordkeeping and evidence retention plan

Last verified: February 2026

Sources

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/subpart-22.17 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/22.1701 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/22.1704 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/22.1705 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.222-50 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.222-56 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-48/chapter-1/subchapter-D/part-22/subpart-22.17