diff --git a/.vsts-dotnet.yml b/.vsts-dotnet.yml
index b94c59e9412..812e8a97336 100644
--- a/.vsts-dotnet.yml
+++ b/.vsts-dotnet.yml
@@ -15,8 +15,11 @@ parameters:
   default: 'default'
 - name: enableOptProf
   displayName: Enable OptProf data collection for this build
+  # vs17.12 is in servicing and no longer collects fresh OptProf data: the VS
+  # bootstrapper build (required only for OptProf collection) is disabled by default.
+  # We keep applying the last-collected optimization data (see SkipApplyOptimizationData below).
   type: boolean
-  default: true
+  default: false
 - name: enableSigningValidation
   displayName: Enable Signing Validation
   type: boolean
@@ -42,10 +45,11 @@ variables:
       value: ${{ parameters.OptProfDropName }}
     - name: SourceBranch
       value: ''
-  # Override SkipApplyOptimizationData to true when disabling OptProf data collection
-  - ${{ if eq(parameters.EnableOptProf, false) }}:
-    - name: SkipApplyOptimizationData
-      value: true
+  # NOTE (vs17.12 servicing): historically, disabling OptProf collection also forced
+  # SkipApplyOptimizationData to true (stop applying data). On this branch we intentionally
+  # decouple the two: collection is disabled, but we keep applying the last-collected
+  # optimization data so shipped binaries stay optimized. SkipApplyOptimizationData is
+  # therefore governed solely by the pipeline variable (default 'false' = apply existing data).
   - name: EnableReleaseOneLocBuild
     value: false # Disable loc for vs17.12
   - name: Codeql.Enabled
diff --git a/azure-pipelines/.vsts-dotnet-build-jobs.yml b/azure-pipelines/.vsts-dotnet-build-jobs.yml
index 759bab0d93a..3d491a08fd1 100644
--- a/azure-pipelines/.vsts-dotnet-build-jobs.yml
+++ b/azure-pipelines/.vsts-dotnet-build-jobs.yml
@@ -140,7 +140,8 @@ jobs:
       ArtifactName: MicroBuildOutputs
       ArtifactType: Container
     displayName: 'OptProf - Publish Artifact: MicroBuildOutputs'
-    condition: succeeded()
+    # Only produced when the OptProf bootstrapper runs; skip when OptProf collection is disabled.
+    condition: and(succeeded(), ${{ parameters.enableOptProf }})
 
   - task: 1ES.PublishBuildArtifacts@1
     displayName: 'Publish Artifact: logs'
@@ -235,4 +236,3 @@ jobs:
       name: $(DncEngInternalBuildPool)
       image: $(WindowsImage)
       os: windows
-
diff --git a/eng/Versions.props b/eng/Versions.props
index 27be754efc3..af89c8976f9 100644
--- a/eng/Versions.props
+++ b/eng/Versions.props
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <!-- Copyright (c) .NET Foundation and contributors. All rights reserved. Licensed under the MIT license. See License.txt in the project root for full license information. -->
 <Project>
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <VersionPrefix>17.12.72</VersionPrefix>
+    <VersionPrefix>17.12.73</VersionPrefix>
     <DotNetFinalVersionKind>release</DotNetFinalVersionKind>
     <PackageValidationBaselineVersion>17.11.4</PackageValidationBaselineVersion>
     <AssemblyVersion>15.1.0.0</AssemblyVersion>