FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.2
FAR 52.246-5 Inspection of Services—Cost-Reimbursement.
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 applies to cost-reimbursement contracts for services and requires the contractor to maintain a Government-acceptable inspection system with complete records. It gives the Government the right to inspect and test services, and if services don't conform, the contractor may have to redo them at no extra fee or face fee reductions or termination for default.
Applies to: Contractors under cost-reimbursement contracts for services or supplies involving services
What it requires
- Provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract
- Maintain complete records of all inspection work performed and make them available to the Government during contract performance and for as long afterwards as the contract requires
- If services do not conform, perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements for no additional fee, when the Government requires it
- If defects cannot be corrected by reperformance, take necessary action to ensure future performance conforms and accept a reduction in any fee payable to reflect reduced value
Key terms: Services · Inspection system · Cost-reimbursement · Reperformance · Terminate the contract for default
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
As prescribed in 46.305, insert the following clause in solicitations and contracts for services, or supplies that involve the furnishing of services, when a cost-reimbursement contract is contemplated:
Inspection of Services—Cost-Reimbursement (APR 1984)
(a) Definition.
Services, as used in this clause, includes services performed, workmanship, and material furnished or used in performing services.
(b) The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government during contract performance and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.
(c) The Government has the right to inspect and test all services called for by the contract, to the extent practicable at all places and times during the term of the contract. The Government shall perform inspections and tests in a manner that will not unduly delay the work.
(d) If any of the services performed do not conform with contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, for no additional fee. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by reperformance, the Government may (1) require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements and (2) reduce any fee payable under the contract to reflect the reduced value of the services performed.
(e) If the Contractor fails to promptly perform the services again or take the action necessary to ensure future performance in conformity with contract requirements, the Government may (1) by contract or otherwise, perform the services and reduce any fee payable by an amount that is equitable under the circumstances or (2) terminate the contract for default.
(End of clause)
Sections it refers to
- 46.305 Cost-reimbursement service contracts.
Sections that refer to it
- 46.305 Cost-reimbursement service contracts.
← 52.246-4 Inspection of Services—Fixed-Price. · 52.246-6 Inspection—Time-and-Material and Labor-Hour. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 52
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Parts 8, 12, 13, 15, 38, 44, and 51 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 9, 27, and 47 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 14, 28, 36, and 52 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 3 and 49 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 5, 24, and 29 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 6, 7, 10, 18, 26, 37, and 41 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 1, 2, 4, 33, 39, 40, and 53 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.