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

FAR 52.243-5 Changes and Changed Conditions.

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 written changes to drawings and specifications within the contract's general scope. It also requires the Contractor to promptly give written notice of certain differing or unusual site conditions before proceeding with the work. If either changes the cost or time needed, the Contracting Officer makes an equitable adjustment after the Contractor submits a proposal before final payment.

Applies to: Contractors under contracts that include this clause

What it requires

  • Promptly notify the Contracting Officer in writing of subsurface or latent physical conditions differing materially from those indicated in the contract, or unknown unusual physical conditions at the site, before proceeding with the work.
  • Submit a proposal for adjustment before final payment under the contract if changes or conditions increase or decrease the cost or time required for performing the work.

Key terms: Contracting Officer · equitable adjustment · proposal · latent physical conditions · 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(e), insert the following clause:

Changes and Changed Conditions (APR 1984)

(a) The Contracting Officer may, in writing, order changes in the drawings and specifications within the general scope of the contract.

(b) The Contractor shall promptly notify the Contracting Officer, in writing, of subsurface or latent physical conditions differing materially from those indicated in this contract or unknown unusual physical conditions at the site before proceeding with the work.

(c) If changes under paragraph (a) or conditions under paragraph (b) increase or decrease the cost of, or time required for performing the work, the Contracting Officer shall make an equitable adjustment (see paragraph (d)) upon submittal of a proposal for adjustment (hereafter referred to as proposal) by the Contractor before final payment under the contract.

(d) The Contracting Officer shall not make an equitable adjustment under paragraph (b) unless—

(1) The Contractor has submitted and the Contracting Officer has received the required written notice; or

(2) The Contracting Officer waives the requirement for the written notice.

(e) Failure to agree to any adjustment shall be a dispute under the Disputes clause.

(End of clause)

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 52.243-4 Changes. · 52.243-6 Change Order Accounting. →

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 52.243-5 Changes and Changed Conditions · SpendQuery