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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.2

FAR 52.236-16 Quantity Surveys.

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 governs how quantities of work are measured and verified on fixed-price construction contracts that use unit pricing and pay based on quantity surveys. It matters because it decides who performs the surveys and computations, and it requires the contractor to hand over survey records to the Government. The clause is included only when the contracting officer chooses to insert it.

Applies to: Fixed-price construction contracts with unit pricing and payment based on quantity surveys

What it requires

  • Conduct surveys for any periods for which progress payments are requested and make the computations based on those surveys
  • Conduct contractor surveys under the direction of a representative of the Contracting Officer unless the Contracting Officer waives this requirement in a specific instance
  • Promptly upon completing a survey, furnish the originals of all field notes and all other records relating to the survey or to the layout of the work to the Contracting Officer
  • Retain copies of all such material furnished to the Contracting Officer

Key terms: quantity surveys · unit pricing · progress payments · field notes · Contracting Officer

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

The text

As prescribed in 36.516, the contracting officer may insert the following clause in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract providing for unit pricing of items and for payment based on quantity surveys is contemplated:

Quantity Surveys (APR 1984)

(a) Quantity surveys shall be conducted, and the data derived from these surveys shall be used in computing the quantities of work performed and the actual construction completed and in place.

(b) The Government shall conduct the original and final surveys and make the computations based on them. The Contractor shall conduct the surveys for any periods for which progress payments are requested and shall make the computations based on these surveys. All surveys conducted by the Contractor shall be conducted under the direction of a representative of the Contracting Officer, unless the Contracting Officer waives this requirement in a specific instance.

(c) Promptly upon completing a survey, the Contractor shall furnish the originals of all field notes and all other records relating to the survey or to the layout of the work to the Contracting Officer, who shall use them as necessary to determine the amount of progress payments. The Contractor shall retain copies of all such material furnished to the Contracting Officer.

(End of clause)

Alternate I (APR 1984). If it is determined at a level above that of the contracting officer that it is impracticable for Government personnel to perform the original and final surveys, and the Government wishes the contractor to perform these surveys, substitute the following paragraph (b) for paragraph (b) of the basic clause:

(b) The Contractor shall conduct the original and final surveys and surveys for any periods for which progress payments are requested. All these surveys shall be conducted under the direction of a representative of the Contracting Officer, unless the Contracting Officer waives this requirement in a specific instance. The Government shall make such computations as are necessary to determine the quantities of work performed or finally in place. The Contractor shall make the computations based on the surveys for any periods for which progress payments are requested.

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 52.236-15 Schedules for Construction Contracts. · 52.236-17 Layout of Work. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 52

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

FAR 52.236-16 Quantity Surveys · SpendQuery