FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.2
FAR 52.247-52 Clearance and Documentation Requirements—Shipments to DOD Air or Water Terminal Transshipment Points.
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 sets clearance and documentation requirements for contractors shipping cargo to DOD air or water terminal transshipment points for overseas destinations. It requires the contractor to obtain an Export Release from the Government transportation office at least 10 days before shipping certain cargo to a water port, and to provide shipment information at least 5 days before shipping to a water or air port. It also requires annotating movement documents and distributing copies to the transshipment point and carrier.
Applies to: Contractors shipping cargo to DOD air or water terminal transshipment points for overseas destinations
What it requires
- Obtain an Export Release from the Government transportation office at least 10 days before shipping cargo to a water port for shipments meeting the specified weight, security, or commodity criteria
- Do not order railway cars or motor vehicles for loading until an Export Release has been received
- If directed to deliver within a shorter period than 10 days, advise the transportation office of the date the cargo will be ready for shipment
- At least 5 days before shipping cargo to a water or air port, provide the Government transportation office the information needed to prepare a Transportation Control and Movement Document (TCMD)
Key terms: Export Release · Transportation Control and Movement Document (TCMD) · Transportation Control Number (TCN) · transshipment point · movement document
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
As prescribed in 47.305-6(f)(2), insert the following clause in solicitations and contracts when shipments will be consigned to DOD air or water terminal transshipment points:
Clearance and Documentation Requirements—Shipments to DOD Air or Water Terminal Transshipment Points (FEB 2006)
All shipments to water or air ports for transshipment to overseas destinations are subject to the following requirements unless clearance and documentation requirements have been expressly delegated to the Contractor:
(a) At least 10 days before shipping cargo to a water port, the Contractor shall obtain an Export Release from the Government transportation office for—
(1) Each shipment weighing 10,000 pounds or more; and
(2) Each shipment weighing less than 10,000 pounds; if the cargo either—
(i) Is classified TOP SECRET, SECRET, OR CONFIDENTIAL;
(ii) Will require exclusive use of a motor vehicle;
(iii) Will occupy full visible capacity of a railway car or motor vehicle;
(iv) Is less than a carload or truckload, but will be tendered as a carload or truckload; or
(v) Is to be shipped to an ammunition outloading port for water shipment; or
(3) Each shipment weighing less than 10,000 pounds if the cargo consists of—
(i) Narcotics;
(ii) Perishable biological material;
(iii) Vehicles to be offered for driveaway service;
(iv) Explosives, ammunition, poisons or other dangerous articles classified as class 1, division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4; class 2, division 2.3; and class 6, division 6.1; or
(v) Radioactive material, as defined in 49 CFR 173.403, class 7.
(b) The Contractor is cautioned not to order railway cars or motor vehicles for loading until an Export Release has been received.
(c) If the Contracting Officer directs delivery within a shorter period than 10 days, the Contractor shall advise the transportation office of the date on which the cargo will be ready for shipment.
(d) At least 5 days before shipping cargo to either a water port or an air port (regardless of the weight, security classification, or the commodity description), the Contractor shall provide the Government transportation office the information shown in paragraph (e) below to permit preparation of a Transportation Control and Movement Document (TCMD).
(e) When applying for the Export Release in paragraph (a) above or when providing information for preparation of the TCMD in accordance with paragraph (d) above, the Contractor shall furnish the—
(1) Proposed date or dates of shipment;
(2) Number and type of containers;
(3) Gross weight and cube of the shipment;
(4) Number of cars or trucks that will be involved;
(5) Transportation Control Number(s) (TCN) as required for marking under MIL-STD-129 or Federal Standard 123; and
(6) Proper shipping name as specified in 46 CFR 146.05 for all items classified as dangerous substances as required for marking under MIL-STD-129.
(f) All movement documents (Government or commercial bills of lading or other delivery documents) shall be annotated by the Contractor with the—
(1) Transportation Control Number, Consignor Code of activity directing the shipment; i.e., cognizant contract administration office, purchasing office when contract administration has been retained, or a Contractor specifically delegated transportation responsibilities under DoD 4500.9-R, Defense Transportation Regulation, responsibilities in the contract, whichever is appropriate, Consignee Code, and Transportation Priority for each shipment unit;
(2) Export Release Number and valid shipping period, if stated (if expired, the Contractor shall request a renewal); and
(3) Cubic foot measurement of each shipment unit.
(g) All annotations on the movement documents shall be made in the Description of Articles space except, on Government bills of lading the Export Release number and shipping period shall be entered in the space entitled Route Order/Release No.
(h) The Contractor shall (1) mail a copy of the bill of lading or other movement document to the transshipment point and (2) give a copy of the bill of lading or other movement document to the carrier for presentation to the transshipment point with delivery of the shipment.
(End of clause)
Sections it refers to
- 47.305-6 Shipments to ports and air terminals.
Sections that refer to it
- 47.305-6 Shipments to ports and air terminals.
← 52.247-51 Evaluation of Export Offers. · 52.247-53 Freight Classification Description. →
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.