FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 46: Quality Assurance › Subpart 46.3
FAR 46.307 Fixed-price research and development contracts.
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 tells contracting officers when to include the Inspection of Research and Development—Fixed-Price clause (52.246-7) in solicitations and contracts. It matters to contractors because that clause governs how R&D work will be inspected under a fixed-price contract. The rule applies when the contract's main goal is delivering end items other than designs, drawings, or reports, a fixed-price contract is planned, and the expected amount exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold.
Applies to: Contracting officers awarding fixed-price research and development contracts
Key terms: 52.246-7 · Inspection of Research and Development—Fixed-Price · simplified acquisition threshold · fixed-price contract · research and development
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.246-7, Inspection of Research and Development—Fixed-Price, in solicitations and contracts for research and development when (1) the primary objective of the contract is the delivery of end items other than designs, drawings, or reports, (2) a fixed-price contract is contemplated, and (3) the contract amount is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold; unless use of the clause is impractical and the clause prescribed in 46.309 is considered to be more appropriate.
(b) The contracting officer may insert the clause in such solicitations and contracts when the contract amount is expected to be at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, and its use is in the Government's interest.
Sections it refers to
← 46.306 Time-and-material and labor-hour contracts. · 46.308 Cost-reimbursement research and development contracts. →
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.