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FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 246: Quality Assurance › Subpart 246.4

DFARS 246.470-1 Assessment of additional costs.

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 section explains how the Government may assess additional costs against a contractor under the Inspection of Supplies—Fixed-Price clause at FAR 52.246-2 when delays, reinspection, or retest occur. A quality assurance representative can recommend the assessment, and if the contracting officer agrees, the contractor is notified in writing and payment is demanded. It matters because it tells contractors the Government can seek to recover these costs and what factors the contracting officer weighs before doing so.

Applies to: Contractors under fixed-price supply contracts subject to FAR 52.246-2, Inspection of Supplies—Fixed-Price

Key terms: additional costs · quality assurance representative (QAR) · contracting officer · FAR 52.246-2, Inspection of Supplies—Fixed-Price · delay, reinspection, or retest

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

The text

(a) Under the clause at FAR 52.246-2, Inspection of Supplies—Fixed-Price, after considering the factors in paragraph (c) of this subsection, the quality assurance representative (QAR) may believe that the assessment of additional costs is warranted. If so, the representative shall recommend that the contracting officer take the necessary action and provide a recommendation as to the amount of additional costs. Costs are based on the applicable Federal agency, foreign military sale, or public rate in effect at the time of the delay, reinspection, or retest.

(b) If the contracting officer agrees with the QAR, the contracting officer shall—

(1) Notify the contractor, in writing, of the determination to exercise the Government's right under the clause at FAR 52.246-2, Inspection of Supplies—Fixed-Price; and

(2) Demand payment of the costs in accordance with the collection procedures contained in FAR Subpart 32.6.

(c) In making a determination to assess additional costs, the contracting officer shall consider—

(1) The frequency of delays, reinspection, or retest under both current and prior contracts;

(2) The cause of such delay, reinspection, or retest; and

(3) The expense of recovering the additional costs.

Sections it refers to

  • 52.246-2 Inspection of Supplies—Fixed-Price.

← 246.470 Government contract quality assurance actions. · 246.470-2 Quality evaluation data. →

Rule changes for DFARS Part 246

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

DFARS 246.470-1 Assessment of additional costs · SpendQuery