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

FAR 52.243-3 Changes—Time-and-Materials or Labor-Hours.

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 changes within the general scope of a time-and-materials or labor-hours contract, such as changes to the services, time or place of performance, or delivery terms. If a change affects hourly rates, the ceiling price, the delivery schedule, or other terms, the Contracting Officer will make an equitable adjustment and modify the contract. The contractor must keep working as changed even if it disagrees with the adjustment.

Applies to: Contractors under time-and-materials or labor-hours contracts that include this clause

What it requires

  • Assert its right to an adjustment under this clause within 30 days from the date of receipt of the written order
  • Continue proceeding with the contract as changed even if it fails to agree to an adjustment

Key terms: Contracting Officer · equitable adjustment · ceiling price · hourly rates · Disputes clause

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

The text

As prescribed in 43.205(c), insert the following clause:

Changes—Time-and-Materials or Labor-Hours (SEP 2000)

(a) The Contracting Officer may at any time, by written order, and without notice to the sureties, if any, make changes within the general scope of this contract in any one or more of the following:

(1) Description of services to be performed.

(2) Time of performance (i.e., hours of the day, days of the week, etc.).

(3) Place of performance of the services.

(4) Drawings, designs, or specifications when the supplies to be furnished are to be specially manufactured for the Government in accordance with the drawings, designs, or specifications.

(5) Method of shipment or packing of supplies.

(6) Place of delivery.

(7) Amount of Government-furnished property.

(b) If any change causes an increase or decrease in any hourly rate, the ceiling price, or the time required for performance of any part of the work under this contract, whether or not changed by the order, or otherwise affects any other terms and conditions of this contract, the Contracting Officer will make an equitable adjustment in any one or more of the following and will modify the contract accordingly:

(1) Ceiling price.

(2) Hourly rates.

(3) Delivery schedule.

(4) Other affected terms.

(c) The Contractor shall assert its right to an adjustment under this clause within 30 days from the date of receipt of the written order. However, if the Contracting Officer decides that the facts justify it, the Contracting Officer may receive and act upon a proposal submitted before final payment of the contract.

(d) Failure to agree to any adjustment will be a dispute under the Disputes clause. However, nothing in this clause excuses the Contractor from proceeding with the contract as changed.

(End of clause)

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 52.243-2 Changes—Cost-Reimbursement. · 52.243-4 Changes. →

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 52.243-3 Changes—Time-and-Materials or Labor-Hours · SpendQuery