Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-84
§862 CONTRACTORS PERFORMING PRIVATE SECURITY FUNCTIONS IN AREAS OF COMBAT OPERATIONS OR OTHER SIGNIFICANT MILITARY OPERATIONS.
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART V— - ACQUISITION › Subpart Subpart G— - Other Special Categories Of Contracting › § 862
Summary
Requires the Secretary of Defense, working with the Secretary of State, to create rules within 120 days after Jan. 28, 2008 about how private security workers are picked, trained, equipped, and must act in combat zones or other major military operations. The rules must set up worker and vehicle registration and record keeping, control and accounting for weapons, and a way to report incidents such as weapons being fired, contractor injuries or deaths, injuries or property damage caused by contractors, attacks on contractor personnel, or use of active non‑lethal defenses. The rules must also require training, qualifications, screening (including background checks if possible), independent review or investigation of incidents and misconduct, guidance for commanders on orders and use of force, a way for commanders to request removal of personnel, and a single place (including a website when secure) where contractors can find orders and instructions. Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulation to be changed within 180 days after Jan. 28, 2008 to add a contract clause that forces contractors and their subcontractors to follow those rules, to cooperate with investigations, and to let contracting officers remove or replace personnel at the contractor’s expense or end the contract for serious or repeated violations. Contracts awarded on or after 180 days after Jan. 28, 2008 must include the clause, and agencies should try to add it to earlier contracts. By March 30, 2008 the DoD Inspector General must tell Congress whether a pilot fines program for contractor violations is feasible and, if so, recommend which contracts and a fines schedule. Contracting officials must provide staff to watch compliance. Failures to follow the rules must be recorded, can affect fee payments, and can lead to suspension or debarment if severe or repeated. The Secretary of Defense must name which areas count as combat or other significant military operations within 120 days after Jan. 28, 2008. “Other significant military operations” are overseas non‑combat activities in uncontrolled, high‑threat places where deadly force by security workers might be needed. Iraq and Afghanistan are included. Intelligence‑community contracts for intelligence work are exempt. Nonprofit grantees in “other significant” areas may be exempt if both Secretaries agree, but no exemptions in combat zones.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §862
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
“(a)“(1)Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008], the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall prescribe regulations on the selection, training, equipping, and conduct of personnel performing private security functions under a covered contract in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations.
“(2)The regulations prescribed under subsection (a) shall, at a minimum, establish—
“(A)a process for registering, processing, accounting for, and keeping appropriate records of personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(B)a process for authorizing and accounting for weapons to be carried by, or available to be used by, personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(C)a process for the registration and identification of armored vehicles, helicopters, and other military vehicles operated by contractors performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(D)a process under which contractors are required to report all incidents, and persons other than contractors are permitted to report incidents, in which—
“(i)a weapon is discharged by personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(ii)personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations are killed or injured;
“(iii)persons are killed or injured, or property is destroyed, as a result of conduct by contractor personnel;
“(iv)a weapon is discharged against personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations or personnel performing such functions believe a weapon was so discharged; or
“(v)active, non-lethal countermeasures (other than the discharge of a weapon) are employed by the personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations in response to a perceived immediate threat to such personnel;
“(E)a process for the independent review and, if practicable, investigation of—
“(i)incidents reported pursuant to subparagraph (D); and
“(ii)incidents of alleged misconduct by personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(F)requirements for qualification, training, screening (including, if practicable, through background checks), and security for personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(G)guidance to the commanders of the combatant commands on the issuance of—
“(i)orders, directives, and instructions to contractors performing private security functions relating to equipment, force protection, security, health, safety, or relations and interaction with locals;
“(ii)predeployment training requirements for personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations, addressing the requirements of this section, resources and assistance available to contractor personnel, country information and cultural training, and guidance on working with host country nationals and military; and
“(iii)rules on the use of force for personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(H)a process by which a commander of a combatant command may request an action described in subsection (b)(3); and
“(I)a process by which the training requirements referred to in subparagraph (G)(ii) shall be implemented.
“(3)The regulations prescribed under subsection (a) shall include mechanisms to ensure the provision and availability of the orders, directives, and instructions referred to in paragraph (2)(G)(i) to contractors referred to in that paragraph, including through the maintenance of a single location (including an Internet website, to the extent consistent with security considerations) at or through which such contractors may access such orders, directives, and instructions.
“(b)“(1)Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008], the Federal Acquisition Regulation issued in accordance with section 1303 of title 41, United States Code[,] shall be revised to require the insertion into each covered contract (or, in the case of a task order, the contract under which the task order is issued) of a contract clause addressing the selection, training, equipping, and conduct of personnel performing private security functions under such contract.
“(2)The contract clause required by paragraph (1) shall require, at a minimum, that the contractor concerned shall—
“(A)ensure that the contractor and all employees of the contractor or any subcontractor who are responsible for performing private security functions under such contract comply with regulations prescribed under subsection (a), including any revisions or updates to such regulations, and follow the procedures established in such regulations for—
“(i)registering, processing, accounting for, and keeping appropriate records of personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(ii)authorizing and accounting of weapons to be carried by, or available to be used by, personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(iii)registration and identification of armored vehicles, helicopters, and other military vehicles operated by contractors and subcontractors performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations; and
“(iv)the reporting of incidents in which—
“(I)a weapon is discharged by personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(II)personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations are killed or injured; or
“(III)persons are killed or injured, or property is destroyed, as a result of conduct by contractor personnel;
“(B)ensure that the contractor and all employees of the contractor or any subcontractor who are responsible for performing private security functions under such contract comply with—
“(i)qualification, training, screening (including, if practicable, through background checks), and security requirements established by the Secretary of Defense for personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(ii)applicable laws and regulations of the United States and the host country, and applicable treaties and international agreements, regarding the performance of the functions of the contractor;
“(iii)orders, directives, and instructions issued by the applicable commander of a combatant command relating to equipment, force protection, security, health, safety, or relations and interaction with locals; and
“(iv)rules on the use of force issued by the applicable commander of a combatant command for personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations;
“(C)cooperate with any investigation conducted by the Department of Defense pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(E) by providing access to employees of the contractor and relevant information in the possession of the contractor regarding the incident concerned; and
“(D)ensure that the contract clause is included in subcontracts awarded to any subcontractor at any tier who is responsible for performing private security functions under the contract.
“(3)The contracting officer for a covered contract may direct the contractor, at its own expense, to remove or replace any personnel performing private security functions in an area of combat operations or other significant military operations who violate or fail to comply with applicable requirements of the clause required by this subsection. If the violation or failure to comply is a gross violation or failure or is repeated, the contract may be terminated for default.
“(4)The contract clause required by this subsection shall be included in all covered contracts awarded on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008]. Federal agencies shall make best efforts to provide for the inclusion of the contract clause required by this subsection in covered contracts awarded before such date.
“(5)Not later than March 30, 2008, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense shall submit to Congress a report assessing the feasibility and advisability of carrying out a pilot program for the imposition of fines on contractors for personnel who violate or fail to comply with applicable requirements of the clause required by this section as a mechanism for enhancing the compliance of such personnel with the clause. The report shall include—
“(A)an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of carrying out the pilot program; and
“(B)if the Inspector General determines that carrying out the pilot program is feasible and advisable—
“(i)recommendations on the range of contracts and subcontracts to which the pilot program should apply; and
“(ii)a schedule of fines to be imposed under the pilot program for various types of personnel actions or failures.
“(c)It shall be the responsibility of the head of the contracting activity responsible for each covered contract to ensure that the contracting activity takes appropriate steps to assign sufficient oversight personnel to the contract to—
“(1)ensure that the contractor responsible for performing private security functions under such contract comply with the regulatory requirements prescribed pursuant to subsection (a) and the contract requirements established pursuant to subsection (b); and
“(2)make the determinations required by subsection (d).
“(d)The failure of a contractor under a covered contract to comply with the requirements of the regulations prescribed under subsection (a) or the contract clause inserted in a covered contract pursuant to subsection (b), as determined by the contracting officer for the covered contract—
“(1)shall be included in appropriate databases of past performance and considered in any responsibility determination or evaluation of the past performance of the contractor for the purpose of a contract award decision, as provided in section 1126 of title 41, United States Code;
“(2)in the case of an award fee contract—
“(A)shall be considered in any evaluation of contract performance by the contractor for the relevant award fee period; and
“(B)may be a basis for reducing or denying award fees for such period, or for recovering all or part of award fees previously paid for such period; and
“(3)in the case of a failure to comply that is severe, prolonged, or repeated—
“(A)shall be referred to the suspension or debarment official for the appropriate agency; and
“(B)may be a basis for suspension or debarment of the contractor.
“(e)The duty of a contractor under a covered contract to comply with the requirements of the regulations prescribed under subsection (a) and the contract clause inserted into a covered contract pursuant to subsection (b), and the availability of the remedies provided in subsection (d), shall not be reduced or diminished by the failure of a higher or lower tier contractor under such contract to comply with such requirements, or by a failure of the contracting activity to provide the oversight required by subsection (c).
“(f)“(1)The Secretary of Defense shall designate the areas constituting either an area of combat operations or other significant military operations for purposes of this section by not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008]. In making designations under this paragraph, the Secretary shall ensure that an area is not designated in whole or part as both an area of combat operations and an area of other significant military operations.
“(2)For purposes of this section, the term ‘other significant military operations’ means activities, other than combat operations, as part of an overseas contingency operation that are carried out by United States Armed Forces in an uncontrolled or unpredictable high-threat environment where personnel performing security functions may be called upon to use deadly force.
“(3)Iraq and Afghanistan shall be included in the areas designated as an area of combat operations or other significant military operations under paragraph (1).
“(4)The Secretary may designate any additional area as an area constituting an area of combat operations or other significant military operations for purposes of this section if the Secretary determines that the presence or potential of combat operations or other significant military operations in such area warrants designation of such area as an area of combat operations or other significant military operations for purposes of this section.
“(5)The Secretary may modify or cease the designation of an area under this subsection as an area of combat operations or other significant military operations if the Secretary determines that combat operations or other significant military operations are no longer ongoing in such area.
“(g)With respect to an area of other significant military operations, the requirements of this section shall apply only upon agreement of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State. An agreement of the Secretaries under this subsection may be made only on an area-by-area basis. With respect to an area of combat operations, the requirements of this section shall always apply.
“(h)“(1)The requirements of this section shall not apply to contracts entered into by elements of the intelligence community in support of intelligence activities.
“(2)The requirements of this section shall not apply to a nonprofit nongovernmental organization receiving grants or cooperative agreements for activities conducted within an area of other significant military operations if the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State agree that such organization may be exempted. An exemption may be granted by the agreement of the Secretaries under this paragraph on an organization-by-organization or area-by-area basis. Such an exemption may not be granted with respect to an area of combat operations.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 862
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 22, 2026
Release point: 119-84