48 CFR § 17.403 - 17.403 Procedures.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t48/s17.403"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "48 CFR § 17.403 - 17.403 Procedures."
title_number: 48
title_name: "Federal Acquisition Regulations System"
section_number: "17.403"
section_name: "17.403 Procedures."
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES"
part_number: "17"
part_name: "SPECIAL CONTRACTING METHODS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "41 U.S.C. 1121(b); 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 4 and 10 U.S.C. chapter 137 legacy provisions (see 10 U.S.C. 3016); and 51 U.S.C. 20113."
regulatory_source: "48 FR 42231, Sept. 19, 1983, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "17"
---
# 17.403 17.403 Procedures.
(a) The contracting officer may award a prime contract to a—
(1) Leader company, obligating it to subcontract a designated portion of the required end items to a specified follower company and to assist it to produce the required end items;
(2) Leader company, for the required assistance to a follower company, and a prime contract to the follower for production of the items; or
(3) Follower company, obligating it to subcontract with a designated leader company for the required assistance.
(b) The contracting officer shall ensure that any contract awarded under this arrangement contains a firm agreement regarding disclosure, if any, of contractor trade secrets, technical designs or concepts, and specific data, or software, of a proprietary nature.