FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 252: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 252.2

DFARS 252.236-7003 Payment for mobilization and preparatory work.

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 clause lets a contractor get paid for mobilization and preparatory work done before actual construction begins, such as moving equipment to the site or building access roads and camps. Payment is based on the contractor's actual expenditures, subject to limits and retained percentages, and the Contracting Officer decides whether the work and items are suitable and necessary. The Contracting Officer's determinations on value and suitability cannot be appealed.

Applies to: Contractors performing mobilization and preparatory work under a contract that includes this clause

What it requires

  • Submit requests for payment that include an account of actual expenditures and supporting documentation such as receipted bills, payroll copies, and freight bills
  • Document that acquired construction plant, equipment, and material are free from all encumbrances
  • Agree not to remove construction plant, equipment, and material from the site without the Contracting Officer's written permission
  • Agree to maintain structures and facilities and not dismantle them before completion and acceptance of the entire work without the Contracting Officer's written permission

Key terms: mobilization · preparatory work · retained percentage · salvage value · Contracting Officer

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

The text

As prescribed in 236.570(b)(2), use the following clause:

Payment for Mobilization and Preparatory Work (JAN 1997)

(a) The Government will make payment to the Contractor under the procedures in this clause for mobilization and preparatory work under item no. __________.

(b) Payments will be made for actual payments by the Contractor on work preparatory to commencing actual work on the construction items for which payment is provided under the terms of this contract, as follows—

(1) For construction plant and equipment exceeding $25,000 in value per unit (as appraised by the Contracting Officer at the work site) acquired for the execution of the work;

(2) Transportation of all plant and equipment to the site;

(3) Material purchased for the prosecution of the contract, but not to be incorporated in the work;

(4) Construction of access roads or railroads, camps, trailer courts, mess halls, dormitories or living quarters, field headquarters facilities, and construction yards;

(5) Personal services; and

(6) Hire of plant.

(c) Requests for payment must include—

(1) An account of the Contractor's actual expenditures;

(2) Supporting documentation, including receipted bills or copies of payrolls and freight bills; and

(3) The Contractor's documentation—

(i) Showing that it has acquired the construction plant, equipment, and material free from all encumbrances;

(ii) Agreeing that the construction plant, equipment, and material will not be removed from the site without the written permission of the Contracting Officer; and

(iii) Agreeing that structures and facilities prepared or erected for the prosecution of the contract work will be maintained and not dismantled prior to the completion and acceptance of the entire work, without the written permission of the Contracting Officer.

(d) Upon receiving a request for payment, the Government will make payment, less any prescribed retained percentage, if—

(1) The Contracting Officer finds the—

(i) Construction plant, material, equipment, and the mobilization and preparatory work performed are suitable and necessary to the efficient prosecution of the contract; and

(ii) Preparatory work has been done with proper economy and efficiency.

(2) Payments for construction plant, equipment, material, and structures and facilities prepared or erected for prosecution of the contract work do not exceed—

(i) The Contractor's cost for the work performed less the estimated value upon completion of the contract; and

(ii) 100 percent of the cost to the contractor of any items having no appreciable salvage value; and

(iii) 75 percent of the cost to the contractor of items which do have an appreciable salvage value.

(e) (1) Payments will continue to be made for item no. ________, and all payments will be deducted from the contract price for this item, until the total deductions reduce this item to zero, after which no further payments will be made under this item.

(2) If the total of payments so made does not reduce this item to zero, the balance will be paid to the Contractor in the final payment under the contract.

(3) The retained percentage will be paid in accordance with the Payments to Contractor clause of this contract.

(f) The Contracting Officer shall determine the value and suitability of the construction plant, equipment, materials, structures and facilities. The Contracting Officer's determinations are not subject to appeal.

(End of clause)

Sections it refers to

  • 236.570 Additional provisions and clauses.

Sections that refer to it

  • 236.570 Additional provisions and clauses.

← 252.236-7002 Obstruction of navigable waterways. · 252.236-7004 Payment for mobilization and demobilization. →

Rule changes for DFARS Part 252

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

DFARS 252.236-7003 Payment for mobilization and preparatory work · SpendQuery