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

FAR 52.247-60 Guaranteed Shipping Characteristics.

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 asks offerors to fill in detailed shipping and packaging data for each separately packed part or component, so the Government can estimate transportation costs when evaluating offers. If the offeror does not provide enough data, evaluation uses the highest transportation costs from other offers or the Contracting Officer's best estimate. If actual shipping characteristics end up costing more than what was used for evaluation, the Contractor agrees the contract price will be reduced by the difference.

Applies to: Offerors and contractors responding to solicitations that include this clause

What it requires

  • Complete subparagraph (a)(1) for each part or component packed or packaged separately
  • Accept a contract price reduction if actual shipping costs exceed the costs used for evaluation due to inaccurate evaluated shipping characteristics

Key terms: guaranteed shipping characteristics · transportation costs · evaluation · shipping configuration · palletized/skidded

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

The text

As prescribed in 47.305-16(b)(1), insert the following clause:

Guaranteed Shipping Characteristics (AUG 2025)

(a) The offeror is requested to complete subparagraph (a)(1) of this clause, for each part or component which is packed or packaged separately. This information will be used to determine transportation costs for evaluation purposes. If the offeror does not furnish sufficient data in subparagraph (a)(1) of this clause, to permit determination by the Government of the item shipping costs, evaluation will be based on the shipping characteristics submitted by the offeror whose offer produces the highest transportation costs or in the absence thereof, by the Contracting Officer's best estimate of the actual transportation costs. If the item shipping costs, based on the actual shipping characteristics, exceed the item shipping costs used for evaluation purposes, the Contractor agrees that the contract price shall be reduced by an amount equal to the difference between the transportation costs actually incurred, and the costs which would have been incurred if the evaluated shipping characteristics had been accurate.

(1) To be completed by the offeror:

(i) Type of container: Wood Box __, Fiber Box __, Barrel __, Reel __, Drum __, Other (Specify) __;

(ii) Shipping configuration: Knocked-down __, Set-up __, Nested __, Other (specify) __;

(iii) Size of container __″ (Length), × __″ (Width), × __″ (Height) = __ Cubic FT;

(iv) Number of items per container __ Each;

(v) Gross weight of container and contents __ LBS

(vi) Palletized/skidded __ Yes __ No;

(vii) Number of containers per pallet/skid __;

(viii) Weight of empty pallet bottom/skid and sides __ LBS;

(ix) Size of pallet/skid and contents __ LBS Cube __;

(x) Number of containers or pallets/skids per railcar___*

(A) Size of railcar___

(B) Type of railcar___

(xi) Number of containers or pallets/skids per trailer___*

(A) Size of trailer___ Ft

(B) Type of trailer

* Number of complete units (line item) to be shipped in carrier's equipment.

(2) To be completed by the Government after evaluation but before contract award:

(i) Rate used in evaluation __;

(ii) Tender/Tariff __;

(iii) Item __;

(b) The guaranteed shipping characteristics requested in subparagraph (a)(1) of this clause do not establish actual transportation requirements, which are specified elsewhere in this solicitation. The guaranteed shipping characteristics will be used only for the purpose of evaluating offers and establishing any liability of the successful offeror for increased transportation costs resulting from actual shipping characteristics which differ from those used for evaluation in accordance with paragraph (a) of this clause.

(End of clause)

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 52.247-59 F.o.b. Origin—Carload and Truckload Shipments. · 52.247-61 F.o.b. Origin—Minimum Size of Shipments. →

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 52.247-60 Guaranteed Shipping Characteristics · SpendQuery