FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 242: Contract Administration and Audit Services › Subpart 242.12
DFARS 242.1204 Applicability of novation agreements.
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
This DFARS section tells contracting officers when a novation agreement is needed and the transferee plans to incur restructuring costs. It requires a specific clause in the novation agreement that limits government payment for costs from the transfer, but allows restructuring costs to be reimbursed under certain conditions. Contractors need to know that restructuring costs are only reimbursable if they meet specific requirements, including an audit and an advance agreement.
Applies to: Contracting officers and transferees involved in novation agreements with restructuring costs.
What it requires
- Include the specified provision as paragraph (b)(7) of the novation agreement when a novation agreement is required and the transferee intends to incur restructuring costs.
- Ensure restructuring costs are not allowed on novated contracts unless there is an audit of the restructuring proposal, a determination by the contracting officer of overall reduced costs to DoD/NASA, and an Advance Agreement setting forth a cumulative cost ceiling and period for cost assignment.
Key terms: novation agreement · restructuring costs · transferee · transferor · advance agreement
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(i) When a novation agreement is required and the transferee intends to incur restructuring costs as defined at 213.205-70, the cognizant contracting officer shall include the following provision as paragraph (b)(7) of the novation agreement instead of the paragraph (b)(7) provided in the sample format at FAR 42.1204(i):
“(7)(i) Except as set forth in subparagraph (7)(ii) below, the Transferor and the Transferee agree that the Government is not obligated to pay or reimburse either of them for, or otherwise give effect to, any costs, taxes, or other expenses, or any related increases, directly or indirectly arising out of or resulting from the transfer or this Agreement, other than those that the Government in the absence of this transfer or Agreement would have been obligated to pay or reimburse under the terms of the contracts.
(ii) The Government recognizes that restructuring by the Transferee incidental to the acquisition/merger may be in the best interests of the Government. Restructuring costs that are allowable under Part 31 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or Part 231 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) may be reimbursed under flexibily-priced novated contracts, provided the Transferee demonstrates that the restructuring will reduce overall costs to the Department of Defense (DoD) (and to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), where there is a mix of DoD and NASA contracts), and the requirements included in DFARS 231.205-70 are met. Restructuring costs shall not be allowed on novated contracts unless there is an audit of the restructuring proposal; a determination by the contracting officer of overall reduced costs to DoD/NASA; and an Advance Agreement setting forth a cumulative cost ceiling for restructuring projects and the period to which such costs shall be assigned.”
Sections it refers to
- 42.1204 Applicability of novation agreements.
- 231.205-70 External restructuring costs.
← 242.1203 Processing agreements. · 242.1502 Policy. →
Rule changes for DFARS Part 242
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2025-08-25 · effective 2025-08-25
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Definition of Material Weakness (DFARS Case 2021-D006) ↗ · final rule 2025-01-17 · effective 2025-01-17
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Cost and Software Data Reporting for Major Weapons Systems (2021-D028) ↗ · proposed 2024-10-10 · comments due 2024-12-09
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Preference for United States Vessels in Transporting Supplies By Sea (DFARS Case 2021-D020) ↗ · final rule 2024-09-26 · effective 2024-10-01
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-07-29 · effective 2024-07-29
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Definition of Material Weakness (DFARS Case 2021-D006) ↗ · proposed 2024-06-27 · comments due 2024-08-26
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Preference for United States Vessels in Transporting Supplies by Sea (DFARS Case 2021-D020) ↗ · proposed 2024-04-25 · comments due 2024-06-24
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.