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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 33: Protests, Disputes, and Appeals › Subpart 33.2

FAR 33.206 Initiation of a claim.

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 sets time limits for submitting and deciding contract claims. A contractor must submit a claim in writing to the contracting officer within 6 years after the claim accrues, unless the parties agreed to a shorter period. The contracting officer must also issue a written decision on any Government claim within 6 years after accrual, with exceptions for older contracts and fraud cases.

Applies to: Contractors and contracting officers involved in contract claims

What it requires

  • Submit contractor claims in writing to the contracting officer for a decision within 6 years after accrual, unless a shorter period was agreed.
  • The contracting officer must document the contract file with evidence of the date of receipt of any contractor submission deemed a claim.
  • The contracting officer must issue a written decision on any Government claim within 6 years after accrual, unless a shorter period was agreed.

Key terms: claim · accrual of a claim · contracting officer · written decision · Government claim

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

The text

(a) Contractor claims shall be submitted, in writing, to the contracting officer for a decision within 6 years after accrual of a claim, unless the contracting parties agreed to a shorter time period. This 6-year time period does not apply to contracts awarded prior to October 1, 1995. The contracting officer shall document the contract file with evidence of the date of receipt of any submission from the contractor deemed to be a claim by the contracting officer.

(b) The contracting officer shall issue a written decision on any Government claim initiated against a contractor within 6 years after accrual of the claim, unless the contracting parties agreed to a shorter time period. The 6-year period shall not apply to contracts awarded prior to October 1, 1995, or to a Government claim based on a contractor claim involving fraud.

Sections that refer to it

← 33.205 Relationship of the Disputes statute to Pub. L. 85-804. · 33.207 Contractor certification. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 33

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

FAR 33.206 Initiation of a claim · SpendQuery