diff --git a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmCommandExecutorTests.cs b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmCommandExecutorTests.cs
index 27b2f08..9c6e55b 100644
--- a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmCommandExecutorTests.cs
+++ b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmCommandExecutorTests.cs
@@ -372,11 +372,11 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
         public string? LastFilterPrefix { get; private set; }
 
         /// <summary>Records a subscription.</summary>
-        /// <param name="subscription">The subscription expression.</param>
+        /// <param name="command">The subscribe-alarms command.</param>
         /// <param name="sessionId">The session identifier.</param>
-        public void Subscribe(string subscription, string sessionId)
+        public void Subscribe(SubscribeAlarmsCommand command, string sessionId)
         {
-            LastSubscription = subscription;
+            LastSubscription = command.SubscriptionExpression;
             LastSessionId = sessionId;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmCommandHandlerTests.cs b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmCommandHandlerTests.cs
index fdd004a..87382fe 100644
--- a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmCommandHandlerTests.cs
+++ b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmCommandHandlerTests.cs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => consumer);
 
-        handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area", "session-1");
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area" }, "session-1");
 
         Assert.True(handler.IsSubscribed);
         Assert.Equal(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area", consumer.LastSubscription);
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => consumer);
 
-        handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!A", "s1");
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
         Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
-            () => handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!B", "s1"));
+            () => handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!B" }, "s1"));
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
             () => consumer);
 
         InvalidOperationException exception = Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
-            () => handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!A", "s1"));
+            () => handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1"));
         Assert.Contains("simulated wnwrap subscribe failure", exception.Message);
         Assert.False(handler.IsSubscribed);
         Assert.True(consumer.Disposed);
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => consumer);
-        handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!A", "s1");
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
 
         handler.Unsubscribe();
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => consumer);
-        handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!A", "s1");
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
 
         Guid g = Guid.NewGuid();
         int rc = handler.Acknowledge(g, "c", "u", "n", "d", "F");
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => consumer);
-        handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!A", "s1");
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
 
         IReadOnlyList<ActiveAlarmSnapshot> snapshots = handler.QueryActive(null);
 
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => consumer);
-        handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!A", "s1");
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
 
         IReadOnlyList<ActiveAlarmSnapshot> filtered = handler.QueryActive("Galaxy!AreaA");
 
@@ -189,13 +189,13 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => consumer);
-        handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!A", "s1");
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
 
         handler.Dispose();
 
         Assert.True(consumer.Disposed);
         Assert.Throws<ObjectDisposedException>(
-            () => handler.Subscribe("x", "y"));
+            () => handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = "x" }, "y"));
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         // factory is invoked. We tally invocation counts after each call so
         // that a missed guard surfaces as the diagnostic count, not a generic
         // "Subscribe should have failed".
-        handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!A", "s1");
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
         Assert.Equal(1, guardInvocations);
 
         handler.Acknowledge(Guid.NewGuid(), "c", "u", "n", "d", "F");
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
 
         // Subscribe: guard runs before the dispatcher is constructed.
         Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
-            () => handler.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!A", "s1"));
+            () => handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1"));
 
         // To exercise the other entry points we need a subscribed handler.
         // Construct a parallel handler with a passing guard, then swap in a
@@ -273,6 +273,132 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => handler.Unsubscribe());
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Worker-9: ForcedMode=Subtag builds a subtag consumer (via the
+    ///     injected standby factory) and advises it — the primary
+    ///     (alarmmgr) consumer is NOT created.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Subscribe_WithForcedSubtagMode_BuildsStandbyConsumerOnly()
+    {
+        FakeConsumer primary = new FakeConsumer();
+        FakeConsumer standby = new FakeConsumer();
+        IReadOnlyList<AlarmSubtagTarget>? capturedWatchList = null;
+        AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
+            new MxAccessEventQueue(),
+            () => primary,
+            threadAffinityCheck: null,
+            comFactory: null,
+            standbyFactory: watch =>
+            {
+                capturedWatchList = watch;
+                return standby;
+            });
+
+        SubscribeAlarmsCommand command = new SubscribeAlarmsCommand
+        {
+            SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area",
+            ForcedMode = AlarmProviderMode.Subtag,
+        };
+        command.WatchList.Add(new AlarmSubtagTarget { AlarmFullReference = "Galaxy!Area.Tank01.Level.HiHi" });
+
+        handler.Subscribe(command, "s1");
+
+        Assert.True(handler.IsSubscribed);
+        Assert.Equal(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area", standby.LastSubscription); // standby advised
+        Assert.Null(primary.LastSubscription);                        // primary never built
+        Assert.NotNull(capturedWatchList);
+        Assert.Single(capturedWatchList!);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Worker-9: ForcedMode=Unspecified + a non-empty watch list builds a
+    ///     failover composite (primary + subtag standby). Forcing the primary
+    ///     to fail on subscribe with a threshold of 1 drives the composite to
+    ///     switch to the subtag provider, which must enqueue an
+    ///     OnAlarmProviderModeChanged event carrying mode=Subtag.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Subscribe_AutoModeWithWatchList_FailoverModeChange_EnqueuesProviderModeChangedEvent()
+    {
+        FakeConsumer primary = new FakeConsumer { ThrowOnSubscribe = true };
+        FakeConsumer standby = new FakeConsumer();
+        MxAccessEventQueue queue = new MxAccessEventQueue();
+        AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
+            queue,
+            () => primary,
+            threadAffinityCheck: null,
+            comFactory: null,
+            standbyFactory: _ => standby);
+
+        SubscribeAlarmsCommand command = new SubscribeAlarmsCommand
+        {
+            SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area",
+            ForcedMode = AlarmProviderMode.Unspecified,
+            Failover = new AlarmFailoverConfig
+            {
+                ConsecutiveFailureThreshold = 1,
+                FailbackProbeIntervalSeconds = 1,
+                FailbackStableProbes = 1,
+            },
+        };
+        command.WatchList.Add(new AlarmSubtagTarget { AlarmFullReference = "Galaxy!Area.Tank01.Level.HiHi" });
+
+        // Subscribe: standby is armed cleanly; the primary subscribe throws and,
+        // at threshold 1, the failover composite switches to standby and raises
+        // ProviderModeChanged. The handler enqueues the proto event.
+        handler.Subscribe(command, "s1");
+
+        IReadOnlyList<WorkerEvent> drained = queue.Drain(0);
+        Assert.Single(drained);
+        MxEvent evt = drained[0].Event;
+        Assert.Equal(MxEventFamily.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged, evt.Family);
+        Assert.Equal("s1", evt.SessionId);
+        Assert.NotNull(evt.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged);
+        Assert.Equal(AlarmProviderMode.Subtag, evt.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged.Mode);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Worker-9: a non-failover subscribe (alarmmgr-only) never enqueues a
+    ///     provider-mode-changed event, and a subsequent Unsubscribe detaches
+    ///     the handler so no event leaks.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Subscribe_AlarmmgrOnly_DoesNotEnqueueProviderModeChangedEvent()
+    {
+        FakeConsumer consumer = new FakeConsumer();
+        MxAccessEventQueue queue = new MxAccessEventQueue();
+        AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(queue, () => consumer);
+
+        handler.Subscribe(
+            new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
+        handler.Unsubscribe();
+
+        Assert.Empty(queue.Drain(0));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Worker-9: the mapper builds a well-formed OnAlarmProviderModeChanged
+    ///     MxEvent — correct family and populated body fields.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Mapper_CreateOnAlarmProviderModeChanged_PopulatesFamilyAndBody()
+    {
+        MxAccessEventMapper mapper = new MxAccessEventMapper();
+        DateTime at = new DateTime(2026, 6, 13, 10, 0, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);
+
+        MxEvent evt = mapper.CreateOnAlarmProviderModeChanged(
+            "session-7", AlarmProviderMode.Subtag, "primary PollOnce failed", unchecked((int)0x80004005), at);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxEventFamily.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged, evt.Family);
+        Assert.Equal("session-7", evt.SessionId);
+        Assert.NotNull(evt.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged);
+        Assert.Equal(AlarmProviderMode.Subtag, evt.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged.Mode);
+        Assert.Equal("primary PollOnce failed", evt.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged.Reason);
+        Assert.Equal(unchecked((int)0x80004005), evt.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged.Hresult);
+        Assert.Equal(at, evt.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged.At.ToDateTime());
+    }
+
     private static MxAlarmSnapshotRecord NewRecord(string provider, string group, string tag)
     {
         return new MxAlarmSnapshotRecord
diff --git a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSessionTests.cs b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSessionTests.cs
index fcf563a..7482041 100644
--- a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSessionTests.cs
+++ b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSessionTests.cs
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSessionTests
             factory,
             eventSink,
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
-            (_eq, _affinity) => handler);
+            (_eq, _affinity, _comFactory) => handler);
 
         await session.StartAsync("session-1", workerProcessId: 1);
 
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSessionTests
             factory,
             eventSink,
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
-            (_eq, _affinity) => handler);
+            (_eq, _affinity, _comFactory) => handler);
 
         await session.StartAsync("session-1", workerProcessId: 1);
 
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSessionTests
             factory,
             eventSink,
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
-            (_eq, _affinity) => handler);
+            (_eq, _affinity, _comFactory) => handler);
 
         await session.StartAsync("session-1", workerProcessId: 1);
 
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSessionTests
             factory,
             eventSink,
             eventQueue,
-            (_eq, _affinity) => handler);
+            (_eq, _affinity, _comFactory) => handler);
 
         await session.StartAsync("session-1", workerProcessId: 1);
 
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSessionTests
             factory,
             eventSink,
             eventQueue,
-            (_eq, _affinity) => handler);
+            (_eq, _affinity, _comFactory) => handler);
 
         await session.StartAsync("session-1", workerProcessId: 1);
 
@@ -496,12 +496,12 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSessionTests
         }
 
         /// <summary>Subscribes to alarm events.</summary>
-        /// <param name="subscription">The subscription descriptor.</param>
+        /// <param name="command">The subscribe-alarms command.</param>
         /// <param name="sessionId">The session identifier.</param>
-        public void Subscribe(string subscription, string sessionId)
+        public void Subscribe(SubscribeAlarmsCommand command, string sessionId)
         {
             IsSubscribed = true;
-            LastSubscription = subscription;
+            LastSubscription = command.SubscriptionExpression;
         }
 
         /// <summary>Unsubscribes from alarm events.</summary>
diff --git a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerPipeSession.cs b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerPipeSession.cs
index fa9f297..238b77a 100644
--- a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerPipeSession.cs
+++ b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerPipeSession.cs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public sealed class WorkerPipeSession
             options,
             () => Process.GetCurrentProcess().Id,
             new WorkerPipeSessionOptions(),
-            () => new MxAccessStaSession((eq, affinity) => new AlarmCommandHandler(eq, () => new WnWrapAlarmConsumer(), affinity)),
+            () => new MxAccessStaSession((eq, affinity, comFactory) => new AlarmCommandHandler(eq, () => new WnWrapAlarmConsumer(), affinity, comFactory, standbyFactory: null)),
             logger)
     {
     }
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public sealed class WorkerPipeSession
             options,
             processIdProvider,
             new WorkerPipeSessionOptions(),
-            () => new MxAccessStaSession((eq, affinity) => new AlarmCommandHandler(eq, () => new WnWrapAlarmConsumer(), affinity)),
+            () => new MxAccessStaSession((eq, affinity, comFactory) => new AlarmCommandHandler(eq, () => new WnWrapAlarmConsumer(), affinity, comFactory, standbyFactory: null)),
             logger: null)
     {
     }
@@ -867,7 +867,7 @@ public sealed class WorkerPipeSession
         // parameterless CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync is used without a
         // prior factory call.
         _runtimeSession ??= new MxAccessStaSession(
-            (eq, affinity) => new AlarmCommandHandler(eq, () => new WnWrapAlarmConsumer(), affinity));
+            (eq, affinity, comFactory) => new AlarmCommandHandler(eq, () => new WnWrapAlarmConsumer(), affinity, comFactory, standbyFactory: null));
         IWorkerRuntimeSession session = _runtimeSession;
         try
         {
diff --git a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/AlarmCommandHandler.cs b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/AlarmCommandHandler.cs
index 1afa909..16a2be3 100644
--- a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/AlarmCommandHandler.cs
+++ b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/AlarmCommandHandler.cs
@@ -37,8 +37,14 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandler : IAlarmCommandHandler
     private readonly MxAccessEventQueue eventQueue;
     private readonly Func<IMxAccessAlarmConsumer> consumerFactory;
     private readonly Action? threadAffinityCheck;
+    private readonly IMxAccessComObjectFactory? comFactory;
+    private readonly Func<IReadOnlyList<AlarmSubtagTarget>, IMxAccessAlarmConsumer>? standbyFactory;
+    private readonly MxAccessEventMapper mapper = new MxAccessEventMapper();
     private readonly object syncRoot = new object();
     private AlarmDispatcher? dispatcher;
+    private FailoverAlarmConsumer? failoverConsumer;
+    private EventHandler<AlarmProviderModeChange>? providerModeChangedHandler;
+    private string subscribeSessionId = string.Empty;
     private bool disposed;
 
     /// <summary>Initializes a new alarm command handler with the given event queue.</summary>
@@ -79,10 +85,49 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandler : IAlarmCommandHandler
         MxAccessEventQueue eventQueue,
         Func<IMxAccessAlarmConsumer> consumerFactory,
         Action? threadAffinityCheck)
+        : this(eventQueue, consumerFactory, threadAffinityCheck, comFactory: null, standbyFactory: null)
+    {
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Full constructor that also threads the MXAccess COM-object factory and
+    ///     an optional standby-consumer seam so the subscribe path can build the
+    ///     subtag / failover consumers required by
+    ///     <see cref="SubscribeAlarmsCommand.ForcedMode"/> and
+    ///     <see cref="SubscribeAlarmsCommand.WatchList"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="eventQueue">The event queue.</param>
+    /// <param name="consumerFactory">
+    ///     Factory for the PRIMARY (alarmmgr) consumer — the existing
+    ///     wnwrap-backed source. Used alone in alarmmgr mode and as the primary
+    ///     of the failover composite in auto mode.
+    /// </param>
+    /// <param name="threadAffinityCheck">Optional STA thread-affinity guard.</param>
+    /// <param name="comFactory">
+    ///     The MXAccess COM-object factory used to build the
+    ///     <see cref="LmxSubtagAlarmSource"/> backing the subtag consumer. May be
+    ///     <see langword="null"/> when a <paramref name="standbyFactory"/> is
+    ///     supplied (tests) or when only the alarmmgr path is ever exercised.
+    /// </param>
+    /// <param name="standbyFactory">
+    ///     Optional seam that builds the STANDBY (subtag) consumer from a watch
+    ///     list. Defaults to a <see cref="SubtagAlarmConsumer"/> over an
+    ///     <see cref="LmxSubtagAlarmSource"/> built from
+    ///     <paramref name="comFactory"/>. Tests inject a fake so they need no
+    ///     live COM factory.
+    /// </param>
+    public AlarmCommandHandler(
+        MxAccessEventQueue eventQueue,
+        Func<IMxAccessAlarmConsumer> consumerFactory,
+        Action? threadAffinityCheck,
+        IMxAccessComObjectFactory? comFactory,
+        Func<IReadOnlyList<AlarmSubtagTarget>, IMxAccessAlarmConsumer>? standbyFactory)
     {
         this.eventQueue = eventQueue ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(eventQueue));
         this.consumerFactory = consumerFactory ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(consumerFactory));
         this.threadAffinityCheck = threadAffinityCheck;
+        this.comFactory = comFactory;
+        this.standbyFactory = standbyFactory;
     }
 
     /// <summary>Gets a value indicating whether the handler is subscribed.</summary>
@@ -92,10 +137,10 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandler : IAlarmCommandHandler
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public void Subscribe(string subscription, string sessionId)
+    public void Subscribe(SubscribeAlarmsCommand command, string sessionId)
     {
         if (disposed) throw new ObjectDisposedException(nameof(AlarmCommandHandler));
-        if (subscription is null) throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(subscription));
+        if (command is null) throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(command));
         threadAffinityCheck?.Invoke();
 
         lock (syncRoot)
@@ -106,17 +151,31 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandler : IAlarmCommandHandler
                     "AlarmCommandHandler already has an active subscription; " +
                     "call Unsubscribe before issuing another SubscribeAlarms command.");
             }
-            IMxAccessAlarmConsumer consumer = consumerFactory()
+
+            subscribeSessionId = sessionId ?? string.Empty;
+            IMxAccessAlarmConsumer consumer = BuildConsumer(command)
                 ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Alarm consumer factory returned null.");
-            MxAccessAlarmEventSink sink = new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(
-                eventQueue, new MxAccessEventMapper());
-            dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, sessionId ?? string.Empty);
+
+            // When the selected consumer is a failover composite, surface its
+            // provider switches onto the worker's event queue so connected
+            // gateway clients can observe degraded/recovered state. The handler
+            // is unsubscribed/disposed on Unsubscribe/Dispose below.
+            if (consumer is FailoverAlarmConsumer failover)
+            {
+                failoverConsumer = failover;
+                providerModeChangedHandler = OnProviderModeChanged;
+                failover.ProviderModeChanged += providerModeChangedHandler;
+            }
+
+            MxAccessAlarmEventSink sink = new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(eventQueue, mapper);
+            dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, subscribeSessionId);
             try
             {
-                dispatcher.Subscribe(subscription);
+                dispatcher.Subscribe(command.SubscriptionExpression ?? string.Empty);
             }
             catch
             {
+                DetachProviderModeChanged();
                 try { dispatcher.Dispose(); } catch { /* swallow */ }
                 dispatcher = null;
                 throw;
@@ -124,6 +183,89 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandler : IAlarmCommandHandler
         }
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Selects and builds the alarm consumer from the command's
+    ///     <see cref="SubscribeAlarmsCommand.ForcedMode"/> and
+    ///     <see cref="SubscribeAlarmsCommand.WatchList"/>:
+    ///     <list type="bullet">
+    ///         <item><description>
+    ///             <c>Alarmmgr</c>, or <c>Unspecified</c> with an empty watch
+    ///             list: the existing primary (alarmmgr) consumer only —
+    ///             today's behavior.
+    ///         </description></item>
+    ///         <item><description>
+    ///             <c>Subtag</c>: a <see cref="SubtagAlarmConsumer"/> only.
+    ///         </description></item>
+    ///         <item><description>
+    ///             <c>Unspecified</c> with a non-empty watch list (auto): a
+    ///             <see cref="FailoverAlarmConsumer"/> over the primary and a
+    ///             subtag standby.
+    ///         </description></item>
+    ///     </list>
+    /// </summary>
+    private IMxAccessAlarmConsumer BuildConsumer(SubscribeAlarmsCommand command)
+    {
+        List<AlarmSubtagTarget> watchList = new List<AlarmSubtagTarget>(command.WatchList);
+
+        if (command.ForcedMode == AlarmProviderMode.Subtag)
+        {
+            return BuildStandby(watchList);
+        }
+
+        if (command.ForcedMode == AlarmProviderMode.Unspecified && watchList.Count > 0)
+        {
+            IMxAccessAlarmConsumer primary = consumerFactory()
+                ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Alarm consumer factory returned null.");
+            IMxAccessAlarmConsumer standby = BuildStandby(watchList);
+            AlarmFailoverConfig? failoverConfig = command.Failover;
+            FailoverSettings settings = new FailoverSettings(
+                failoverConfig?.ConsecutiveFailureThreshold ?? 3,
+                failoverConfig?.FailbackProbeIntervalSeconds ?? 30,
+                failoverConfig?.FailbackStableProbes ?? 3);
+            return new FailoverAlarmConsumer(primary, standby, settings);
+        }
+
+        // Alarmmgr, or Unspecified with an empty watch list — primary only.
+        return consumerFactory()
+            ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Alarm consumer factory returned null.");
+    }
+
+    private IMxAccessAlarmConsumer BuildStandby(IReadOnlyList<AlarmSubtagTarget> watchList)
+    {
+        if (standbyFactory is not null)
+        {
+            return standbyFactory(watchList)
+                ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Standby alarm consumer factory returned null.");
+        }
+
+        if (comFactory is null)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                "Subtag alarm consumer requires an IMxAccessComObjectFactory; the alarm command "
+                + "handler was constructed without one and no standby factory was supplied.");
+        }
+
+        return new SubtagAlarmConsumer(new LmxSubtagAlarmSource(comFactory), watchList);
+    }
+
+    private void OnProviderModeChanged(object? sender, AlarmProviderModeChange change)
+    {
+        if (change is null) return;
+        eventQueue.Enqueue(mapper.CreateOnAlarmProviderModeChanged(
+            subscribeSessionId, change.Mode, change.Reason, change.HResult, change.AtUtc));
+    }
+
+    private void DetachProviderModeChanged()
+    {
+        if (failoverConsumer is not null && providerModeChangedHandler is not null)
+        {
+            try { failoverConsumer.ProviderModeChanged -= providerModeChangedHandler; }
+            catch { /* swallow */ }
+        }
+        failoverConsumer = null;
+        providerModeChangedHandler = null;
+    }
+
     /// <inheritdoc />
     public void Unsubscribe()
     {
@@ -131,6 +273,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandler : IAlarmCommandHandler
         AlarmDispatcher? toDispose;
         lock (syncRoot)
         {
+            DetachProviderModeChanged();
             toDispose = dispatcher;
             dispatcher = null;
         }
diff --git a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/IAlarmCommandHandler.cs b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/IAlarmCommandHandler.cs
index bad5680..9b359ca 100644
--- a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/IAlarmCommandHandler.cs
+++ b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/IAlarmCommandHandler.cs
@@ -13,10 +13,16 @@ namespace ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
 /// </summary>
 public interface IAlarmCommandHandler : IDisposable
 {
-    /// <summary>Begin a subscription against the supplied AVEVA alarm-provider expression.</summary>
-    /// <param name="subscription">The AVEVA alarm-provider subscription expression.</param>
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Begin an alarm subscription from the supplied command. The command's
+    ///     <see cref="SubscribeAlarmsCommand.ForcedMode"/> and
+    ///     <see cref="SubscribeAlarmsCommand.WatchList"/> select the consumer:
+    ///     alarmmgr-only (the default), subtag-only, or an auto-failover
+    ///     composite over both.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="command">The full SubscribeAlarms command.</param>
     /// <param name="sessionId">The session identifier.</param>
-    void Subscribe(string subscription, string sessionId);
+    void Subscribe(SubscribeAlarmsCommand command, string sessionId);
 
     /// <summary>Tear down the active subscription. No-op if not subscribed.</summary>
     void Unsubscribe();
diff --git a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessCommandExecutor.cs b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessCommandExecutor.cs
index 446be67..1dfd718 100644
--- a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessCommandExecutor.cs
+++ b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessCommandExecutor.cs
@@ -598,7 +598,8 @@ public sealed class MxAccessCommandExecutor : IStaCommandExecutor
                 "SubscribeAlarms requires an alarm command handler; the worker was constructed without one.");
         }
 
-        string subscription = command.Command.SubscribeAlarms.SubscriptionExpression ?? string.Empty;
+        SubscribeAlarmsCommand subscribeCommand = command.Command.SubscribeAlarms;
+        string subscription = subscribeCommand.SubscriptionExpression ?? string.Empty;
         if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(subscription))
         {
             return CreateInvalidRequestReply(command, "SubscribeAlarms.subscription_expression is required.");
@@ -606,7 +607,7 @@ public sealed class MxAccessCommandExecutor : IStaCommandExecutor
 
         try
         {
-            alarmCommandHandler.Subscribe(subscription, command.SessionId);
+            alarmCommandHandler.Subscribe(subscribeCommand, command.SessionId);
             return CreateOkReply(command);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
diff --git a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessEventMapper.cs b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessEventMapper.cs
index 08f844f..5a66f43 100644
--- a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessEventMapper.cs
+++ b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessEventMapper.cs
@@ -182,6 +182,43 @@ public sealed class MxAccessEventMapper
         return mxEvent;
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Creates an OnAlarmProviderModeChanged event from a
+    ///     <see cref="FailoverAlarmConsumer"/> provider switch. The worker's
+    ///     alarm path drives this when the failover composite switches between
+    ///     the alarmmgr primary and the subtag standby, so connected gateway
+    ///     clients can observe the degraded/recovered provider state.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="sessionId">Identifier of the session.</param>
+    /// <param name="mode">The provider mode now active after the switch.</param>
+    /// <param name="reason">Human-readable reason for the switch.</param>
+    /// <param name="hresult">The COM HRESULT that triggered a failover, or 0 for a clean failback.</param>
+    /// <param name="atUtc">The UTC instant the switch occurred.</param>
+    public MxEvent CreateOnAlarmProviderModeChanged(
+        string sessionId,
+        AlarmProviderMode mode,
+        string reason,
+        int hresult,
+        DateTime atUtc)
+    {
+        MxEvent mxEvent = CreateBaseEvent(
+            MxEventFamily.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged,
+            sessionId,
+            serverHandle: 0,
+            itemHandle: 0,
+            statuses: null);
+
+        mxEvent.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged = new OnAlarmProviderModeChangedEvent
+        {
+            Mode = mode,
+            Reason = reason ?? string.Empty,
+            Hresult = hresult,
+            At = Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes.Timestamp.FromDateTime(
+                DateTime.SpecifyKind(atUtc, DateTimeKind.Utc)),
+        };
+        return mxEvent;
+    }
+
     /// <summary>Creates an OnBufferedDataChange event from MXAccess COM event arguments.</summary>
     /// <param name="sessionId">Identifier of the session.</param>
     /// <param name="serverHandle">Handle returned by the worker.</param>
diff --git a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSession.cs b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSession.cs
index cd8448b..385ddab 100644
--- a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSession.cs
+++ b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSession.cs
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSession : IWorkerRuntimeSession
     // then invokes the guard at the entry of every method that touches the
     // wnwrap consumer, matching the STA-affinity invariant already enforced
     // for the poll path via EnsureOnAlarmConsumerThread.
-    private readonly Func<MxAccessEventQueue, Action, IAlarmCommandHandler>? alarmCommandHandlerFactory;
+    // Worker-9: the third arg is the session's IMxAccessComObjectFactory, so
+    // the handler can build the subtag-fallback source's own proxy-server COM
+    // object on this STA when a subscribe selects the subtag / failover path.
+    private readonly Func<MxAccessEventQueue, Action, IMxAccessComObjectFactory, IAlarmCommandHandler>? alarmCommandHandlerFactory;
     private StaCommandDispatcher? commandDispatcher;
     private MxAccessSession? session;
     private IAlarmCommandHandler? alarmCommandHandler;
@@ -51,7 +54,7 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSession : IWorkerRuntimeSession
     /// of alarm-side commands.
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="alarmCommandHandlerFactory">Factory that constructs the alarm-command handler.</param>
-    internal MxAccessStaSession(Func<MxAccessEventQueue, Action, IAlarmCommandHandler>? alarmCommandHandlerFactory)
+    internal MxAccessStaSession(Func<MxAccessEventQueue, Action, IMxAccessComObjectFactory, IAlarmCommandHandler>? alarmCommandHandlerFactory)
         : this(
             new StaRuntime(),
             new MxAccessComObjectFactory(),
@@ -103,7 +106,7 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSession : IWorkerRuntimeSession
         StaRuntime staRuntime,
         IMxAccessComObjectFactory factory,
         MxAccessEventQueue eventQueue,
-        Func<MxAccessEventQueue, Action, IAlarmCommandHandler>? alarmCommandHandlerFactory)
+        Func<MxAccessEventQueue, Action, IMxAccessComObjectFactory, IAlarmCommandHandler>? alarmCommandHandlerFactory)
         : this(staRuntime, factory, new MxAccessBaseEventSink(eventQueue), eventQueue, alarmCommandHandlerFactory)
     {
     }
@@ -141,7 +144,7 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSession : IWorkerRuntimeSession
         IMxAccessComObjectFactory factory,
         IMxAccessEventSink eventSink,
         MxAccessEventQueue eventQueue,
-        Func<MxAccessEventQueue, Action, IAlarmCommandHandler>? alarmCommandHandlerFactory)
+        Func<MxAccessEventQueue, Action, IMxAccessComObjectFactory, IAlarmCommandHandler>? alarmCommandHandlerFactory)
     {
         this.staRuntime = staRuntime ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(staRuntime));
         this.factory = factory ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(factory));
@@ -209,9 +212,16 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSession : IWorkerRuntimeSession
                     // on convention alone; a future refactor that let a
                     // command run off-STA would silently deadlock on
                     // cross-apartment marshaling against the wnwrap consumer.
+                    // Worker-9: the factory also receives the session's
+                    // IMxAccessComObjectFactory so the subtag-fallback source
+                    // (LmxSubtagAlarmSource) can create its OWN proxy-server COM
+                    // object on this STA, isolated from the item pipeline's
+                    // MxAccessSession. The factory call runs on the STA, so the
+                    // resulting source is bound to the correct apartment.
                     alarmCommandHandler = alarmCommandHandlerFactory(
                         eventQueue,
-                        EnsureOnAlarmConsumerThread);
+                        EnsureOnAlarmConsumerThread,
+                        factory);
                 }
                 commandDispatcher = new StaCommandDispatcher(
                     staRuntime,