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

FAR 52.236-3 Site Investigation and Conditions Affecting the 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 says the contractor confirms it has investigated the site and local conditions that could affect the work or its cost, and that it has checked the character and quantity of surface and subsurface materials as far as reasonably possible from site inspection, Government exploratory work, and the contract drawings and specifications. It also states that the Government takes no responsibility for the contractor's conclusions from Government information, or for any pre-contract understanding or representation not expressly written into the contract. This matters because failing to do these things does not excuse the contractor from properly estimating difficulty and cost or from compl

Applies to: Contractors performing work under a contract containing this clause

What it requires

  • Take steps reasonably necessary to ascertain the nature and location of the work
  • Investigate and satisfy itself as to general and local conditions that can affect the work or its cost
  • Satisfy itself as to the character, quality, and quantity of surface and subsurface materials or obstacles insofar as reasonably ascertainable from site inspection, Government exploratory work, and the contract drawings and specifications
  • Estimate properly the difficulty and cost of successfully performing the work and proceed to perform it without additional expense to the Government

Key terms: site investigation · general and local conditions · surface and subsurface materials · exploratory work · drawings and specifications

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

The text

As prescribed in 36.503, insert the following clause:

Site Investigation and Conditions Affecting the Work (APR 1984)

(a) The Contractor acknowledges that it has taken steps reasonably necessary to ascertain the nature and location of the work, and that it has investigated and satisfied itself as to the general and local conditions which can affect the work or its cost, including but not limited to (1) conditions bearing upon transportation, disposal, handling, and storage of materials; (2) the availability of labor, water, electric power, and roads; (3) uncertainties of weather, river stages, tides, or similar physical conditions at the site; (4) the conformation and conditions of the ground; and (5) the character of equipment and facilities needed preliminary to and during work performance. The Contractor also acknowledges that it has satisfied itself as to the character, quality, and quantity of surface and subsurface materials or obstacles to be encountered insofar as this information is reasonably ascertainable from an inspection of the site, including all exploratory work done by the Government, as well as from the drawings and specifications made a part of this contract. Any failure of the Contractor to take the actions described and acknowledged in this paragraph will not relieve the Contractor from responsibility for estimating properly the difficulty and cost of successfully performing the work, or for proceeding to successfully perform the work without additional expense to the Government.

(b) The Government assumes no responsibility for any conclusions or interpretations made by the Contractor based on the information made available by the Government. Nor does the Government assume responsibility for any understanding reached or representation made concerning conditions which can affect the work by any of its officers or agents before the execution of this contract, unless that understanding or representation is expressly stated in this contract.

(End of clause)

Sections it refers to

  • 36.503 Site investigation and conditions affecting the work.

Sections that refer to it

  • 36.503 Site investigation and conditions affecting the work.
  • 36.523 Site visit.
  • 52.236-27 Site Visit (Construction).

← 52.236-2 Differing Site Conditions. · 52.236-4 Physical Data. →

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 52.236-3 Site Investigation and Conditions Affecting the Work · SpendQuery