FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 50: Extraordinary Contractual Actions and the Safety Act › Subpart 50.1
FAR 50.104-3 Special procedures for unusually hazardous or nuclear risks.
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 a contractor can request an indemnification clause to cover unusually hazardous or nuclear risks, and what information must be included in the request. It also describes how the contracting officer reviews and processes the request, including forwarding it for approval and notifying the contractor of any denial. Contractors must promptly report significant changes in insurance coverage after submitting a request.
Applies to: Contractors seeking indemnification for unusually hazardous or nuclear risks under a Government contract.
What it requires
- Submit indemnification requests to the contracting officer with specified information.
- Include identification of the contract, definition of risks, insurance details, and other required statements.
- Immediately report to the contracting officer any significant changes in insurance coverage after submission and before approval.
- If requesting indemnification for subcontractors, submit a written request to the contracting officer.
Key terms: indemnification · unusually hazardous or nuclear risks · contracting officer · Memorandum of Decision · subcontractors
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) Indemnification requests. (1) Contractor requests for the indemnification clause to cover unusually hazardous or nuclear risks should be submitted to the contracting officer and shall include the following information:
(i) Identification of the contract for which the indemnification clause is requested.
(ii) Identification and definition of the unusually hazardous or nuclear risks for which indemnification is requested, with a statement indicating how the contractor would be exposed to them.
(iii) A statement, executed by a corporate official with binding contractual authority, of all insurance coverage applicable to the risks to be defined in the contract as unusually hazardous or nuclear, including—
(A) Names of insurance companies, policy numbers, and expiration dates;
(B) A description of the types of insurance provided (including the extent to which the contractor is self-insured or intends to self-insure), with emphasis on identifying the risks insured against and the coverage extended to persons or property, or both;
(C) Dollar limits per occurrence and annually, and any other limitation, for relevant segments of the total insurance coverage;
(D) Deductibles, if any, applicable to losses under the policies;
(E) Any exclusions from coverage under such policies for unusually hazardous or nuclear risks; and
(F) Applicable workers' compensation insurance coverage.
(iv) The controlling or limiting factors for determining the amount of financial protection the contractor is to provide and maintain, with information regarding the availability, cost, and terms of additional insurance or other forms of financial protection.
(v) Whether the contractor's insurance program has been approved or accepted by any Government agency; and whether the contractor has an indemnification agreement covering similar risks under any other Government program, and, if so, a brief description of any limitations.
(vi) If the contractor is a division or subsidiary of a parent corporation—
(A) A statement of any insurance coverage of the parent corporation that bears on the risks for which the contractor seeks indemnification; and
(B) A description of the precise legal relationship between parent and subsidiary or division.
(2) If the dollar value of the contractor's insurance coverage varies by 10 percent or more from that stated in an indemnification request submitted in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this subsection, or if other significant changes in insurance coverage occur after submission and before approval, the contractor shall immediately submit to the contracting officer a brief description of the changes.
(b) Action on indemnification requests. (1) The contracting officer, with assistance from legal counsel and cognizant program office personnel, shall review the indemnification request and ascertain whether it contains all required information. If the contracting officer, after considering the facts and evidence, denies the request, the contracting officer shall notify the contractor promptly of the denial and of the reasons for it. If recommending approval, the contracting officer shall forward the request (as modified, if necessary, by negotiation) through channels to the appropriate official specified in 50.102-1(d). The contracting officer's submission shall include all information submitted by the contractor and—
(i) All pertinent information regarding the proposed contract or program, including the period of performance, locations, and facilities involved;
(ii) A definition of the unusually hazardous or nuclear risks involved in the proposed contract or program, with a statement that the parties have agreed to it;
(iii) A statement by responsible authority that the indemnification action would facilitate the national defense;
(iv) A statement that the contract will involve unusually hazardous or nuclear risks that could impose liability upon the contractor in excess of financial protection reasonably available;
(v) A statement that the contractor is complying with applicable Government safety requirements;
(vi) A statement of whether the indemnification should be extended to subcontractors; and
(vii) A description of any significant changes in the contractor's insurance coverage (see 50.104-3(a)(2)) occurring since submission of the indemnification request.
(2) Approval of a request to include the indemnification clause in a contract shall be by a Memorandum of Decision executed by the appropriate official specified in 50.102-1(d).
(3) When use of the indemnification clause is approved under paragraph (b)(2) of this subsection, the definition of unusually hazardous or nuclear risks (see paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this subsection) shall be incorporated into the contract, along with the clause.
(4) When approval is—
(i) Authorized in the Memorandum of Decision; and
(ii) Justified by the circumstances, the contracting officer may approve the contractor's written request to provide for indemnification of subcontractors, using the same procedures as those required for contractors.
Sections it refers to
- 50.102-1 Delegation of authority.
← 50.104-2 General. · 50.104-4 Contract clause. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 50
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · proposed 2024-11-29 · comments due 2025-01-28
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Limitation of Authority Regarding Extraordinary Contractual Actions ↗ · final rule 2024-07-30 · effective 2024-08-29
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.