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

FAR 52.242-14 Suspension of 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 lets the Contracting Officer order the contractor in writing to suspend, delay, or interrupt all or part of the work for the Government's convenience. If that suspension, delay, or interruption lasts an unreasonable time due to the Contracting Officer's act or failure to act, the contractor can get a cost adjustment (excluding profit) through a written contract modification. It matters because it sets the ground rules and deadlines for recovering added costs when the Government pauses the work.

Applies to: Fixed-price construction or architect-engineer contracts that include this clause

What it requires

  • Notify the Contracting Officer in writing of the act or failure to act involved, generally no more than 20 days before the costs are incurred (this notice requirement does not apply to a claim resulting from a suspension order)
  • Assert the claim in writing, in a stated amount, as soon as practicable after the suspension, delay, or interruption ends, and no later than the date of final payment under the contract

Key terms: Suspension of Work · Contracting Officer · equitable adjustment · final payment · suspension order

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

The text

As prescribed in 42.1305(a), insert the following clause in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction or architect-engineer contract is contemplated:

Suspension of Work (APR 1984)

(a) The Contracting Officer may order the Contractor, in writing, to suspend, delay, or interrupt all or any part of the work of this contract for the period of time that the Contracting Officer determines appropriate for the convenience of the Government.

(b) If the performance of all or any part of the work is, for an unreasonable period of time, suspended, delayed, or interrupted (1) by an act of the Contracting Officer in the administration of this contract, or (2) by the Contracting Officer's failure to act within the time specified in this contract (or within a reasonable time if not specified), an adjustment shall be made for any increase in the cost of performance of this contract (excluding profit) necessarily caused by the unreasonable suspension, delay, or interruption, and the contract modified in writing accordingly. However, no adjustment shall be made under this clause for any suspension, delay, or interruption to the extent that performance would have been so suspended, delayed, or interrupted by any other cause, including the fault or negligence of the Contractor, or for which an equitable adjustment is provided for or excluded under any other term or condition of this contract.

(c) A claim under this clause shall not be allowed (1) for any costs incurred more than 20 days before the Contractor shall have notified the Contracting Officer in writing of the act or failure to act involved (but this requirement shall not apply as to a claim resulting from a suspension order), and (2) unless the claim, in an amount stated, is asserted in writing as soon as practicable after the termination of the suspension, delay, or interruption, but not later than the date of final payment under the contract.

(End of clause)

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 52.242-13 Bankruptcy. · 52.242-15 Stop-Work Order. →

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 52.242-14 Suspension of Work · SpendQuery