FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 16: Types of Contracts › Subpart 16.2

FAR 16.202-1 Description.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

A firm-fixed-price contract sets a price that does not change based on the contractor's actual cost experience. This places maximum risk and full responsibility for costs and profit or loss on the contractor, while giving a strong incentive to control costs and perform effectively. It also imposes the least administrative burden on both parties.

Applies to: Contractors bidding on or performing firm-fixed-price contracts

Key terms: firm-fixed-price contract · contractor's cost experience · award-fee incentive · performance or delivery incentives · contracting officer

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

A firm-fixed-price contract provides for a price that is not subject to any adjustment on the basis of the contractor's cost experience in performing the contract. This contract type places upon the contractor maximum risk and full responsibility for all costs and resulting profit or loss. It provides maximum incentive for the contractor to control costs and perform effectively and imposes a minimum administrative burden upon the contracting parties. The contracting officer may use a firm-fixed-price contract in conjunction with an award-fee incentive (see 16.404) and performance or delivery incentives (see 16.402-2 and 16.402-3) when the award fee or incentive is based solely on factors other than cost. The contract type remains firm-fixed-price when used with these incentives.

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 16.202 Firm-fixed-price contracts. · 16.202-2 Application. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 16

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 16.202-1 Description · SpendQuery