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DFARS Clause ACTIVE

252.217-7027

Contract Definitization.
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Effective Date
MAY 2023
Active Deviations
2
Versions
3 (since 2016-12-22)
DEV
This clause is modified by 2 active class deviations
  • 2026-O0045 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 16)
    Add clause 252.217-7027
  • 2026-O0027 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 17)
    Add clause 252.217-7027
View per-deviation details →
252.217-7027 Contract Definitization.

As prescribed in 217.7406(b), use the following clause:

Contract Definitization (MAY 2023)

(a) A___
[insert specific type of contract action]
is contemplated. The Contractor agrees to begin promptly negotiating with the Contracting Officer the terms of a definitive contract that will include—

(1) All clauses required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) on the date of execution of the undefinitized contract action;

(2) All clauses required by law on the date of execution of the definitive contract action; and

(3) Any other mutually agreeable clauses, terms, and conditions.

(b) The Contractor agrees to submit a___
[insert type of proposal; e.g., fixed-price or cost-and-fee]
proposal and certified cost or pricing data supporting its proposal. Notwithstanding FAR 52.216-26, Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization, failure to meet the qualifying proposal date in the contract definitization schedule could result in the Contracting Officer withholding an amount up to 5 percent of all subsequent requests for financing until the Contracting Officer determines that a proposal is qualifying.

(c) The schedule for definitizing this contract action is as follows
[insert target date for definitization of the contract action and dates for submission of proposal, beginning of negotiations, and, if appropriate, submission of the make-or-buy and subcontracting plans and certified cost or pricing data]:

(d) If agreement on a definitive contract action to supersede this undefinitized contract action is not reached by the target date in paragraph (c) of this clause, or within any extension of it granted by the Contracting Officer, the Contracting Officer may, with the approval of the head of the contracting activity, determine a reasonable price or fee in accordance with FAR subpart 15.4 and part 31, subject to Contractor appeal as provided in the Disputes clause. In any event, the Contractor shall proceed with completion of the contract, subject only to the Limitation of Government Liability clause.

(1) After the Contracting Officer's determination of price or fee, the contract shall be governed by—

(i) All clauses required by the FAR on the date of execution of this undefinitized contract action for either fixed-price or cost-reimbursement contracts, as determined by the Contracting Officer under this paragraph (d);

(ii) All clauses required by law as of the date of the Contracting Officer's determination; and

(iii) Any other clauses, terms, and conditions mutually agreed upon.

(2) To the extent consistent with paragraph (d)(1) of this clause, all clauses, terms, and conditions included in this undefinitized contract action shall continue in effect, except those that by their nature apply only to an undefinitized contract action.

(e) The definitive contract resulting from this undefinitized contract action will include a negotiated___
[insert "cost/price ceiling" or "firm-fixed price"]
in no event to exceed__
[insert the not-to-exceed amount].

(End of clause)

[88 FR 33838, May 25, 2023]
RFO
Prescription superseded under the RFO

The prescription shown below is from the codified eCFR. Under the RFO, the prescribing section may have been revised, relocated or reserved. See the deviation memorandum for the current prescription authority.

View deviation: 2026-O0045 → · View deviation: 2026-O0027 →

R-DFARS Prescription Source

This clause is prescribed in the R-DFARS by the following deviations:

  • 2026-O0045 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 16) (DFARS Part 216)
    Add clause 252.217-7027
  • 2026-O0027 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 17) (DFARS Part 217)
    Add clause 252.217-7027
217.7406(b)
(a) Use the clause at FAR 52.216-24, Limitation of Government Liability, in--
(1) All UCAs;
(2) Solicitations associated with UCAs;
(3) Basic ordering agreements;
(4) Indefinite delivery contracts;
(5) Any other type of contract providing for the use of UCAs; and
(6) Unpriced change orders with an estimated value exceeding $5 million. (b)(1) Use the clause at 252.217-7027, Contract Definitization, in--
(i) All UCAs;
(ii) Solicitations associated with UCAs;
(iii) Basic ordering agreements;
(iv) Indefinite delivery contracts;
(v) Any other type of contract providing for the use of UCAs; and
(vi) Unpriced change orders with an estimated value exceeding $5 million.
(2) Insert the applicable information in paragraphs (a), (b), and (d) of the clause.
(3) If, at the time of entering into the UCA or unpriced change order, the contracting officer knows that the definitive contract action will meet the criteria of FAR 15.403-1, 15.403-2, or 15.403-3 for not requiring submission of certified cost or pricing data, the words "and certified cost or pricing data" may be deleted from paragraph (a) of the clause.
Prescription data sourced from eCFR as of 2026-06-10 03:16 UTC. Cross-references within the prescription are not resolved automatically.

Regulatory Stack

The layers of regulation that govern this clause, from the FAR prescription through agency-specific supplements and any active deviations.

R-DFARS R-DFARS Prescription Per Deviation 2026-O0045 (DFARS Part 216/217)
2026-O0045: DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 16) — DFARS Part 216
2026-O0027: DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 17) — DFARS Part 217

View Deviation 2026-O0045 → · View Deviation 2026-O0027 →

DFARS DFARS Supplement (eCFR) ⚠ May be superseded by RFO 217.7406(b)
(a) Use the clause at FAR 52.216-24, Limitation of Government Liability, in--
(1) All UCAs;
(2) Solicitations associated with UCAs;
(3) Basic ordering agreements;
(4) Indefinite delivery contracts;
(5) Any other type of contract providing for the use of UCAs; and
(6) Unpriced change orders with an estimated value exceeding $5 million. (b)(1) Use the clause at 252.217-7027, Contract Definitization, in--
(i) All UCAs;
(ii) Solicitations associated with UCAs;
(iii) Basic ordering agreements;
(iv) Indefinite delivery contracts;
(v) Any other type of contract providing for the use of UCAs; and
(vi) Unpriced change orders with an estimated value exceeding $5 million.
(2) Insert the applicable information in paragraphs (a), (b), and (d) of the clause.
(3) If, at the time of entering into the UCA or unpriced change order, the contracting officer knows that the definitive contract action will meet the criteria of FAR 15.403-1, 15.403-2, or 15.403-3 for not requiring submission of certified cost or pricing data, the words "and certified cost or pricing data" may be deleted from paragraph (a) of the clause.

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Version History

Version history is sourced from the codified eCFR. Changes published only as class deviations or by the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul do not appear here until they are incorporated into the eCFR. For RFO-driven changes see the RFO Version tab and any active deviations cited above.

3 versions tracked from 2016-12-22 to 2023-05-25.
MAY 2023 May 25, 2023 CURRENT SUBSTANTIVE
Removed in this version
Added in this version
Unchanged
MAY 2022 (previous)
MAY 2023 (current)
4 added, 74 removed
(a)
(a) A ______(insert specific type of contract action) is contemplated. The Contractor agrees to begin promptly negotiating with the Contracting Officer the terms of a definitive contract that will include (1) all clauses required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) on the date of execution of the underfinitized contract action, (2) all clauses required by law on the date of execution of the definitive contract action, and (3) any other mutually agreeable clauses, terms, and conditions. The Contractor agrees to submit a ______(insert type of proposal; e.g., fixed-price or cost-and-fee) proposal and certified cost or pricing data supporting its proposal.
(a)
(a) A___ [insert specific type of contract action] is contemplated. The Contractor agrees to begin promptly negotiating with the Contracting Officer the terms of a definitive contract that will include—
67 added, 36 removed
(b)
(b) The schedule for definitizing this contract is as follows (insert target date for definitization of the contract action and dates for submission of proposal, beginning of negotiations, and, if appropriate, submission of the make-or-buy and subcontracting plans and certified cost or pricing data).
(b)
(b) The Contractor agrees to submit a___ [insert type of proposal; e.g., fixed-price or cost-and-fee] proposal and certified cost or pricing data supporting its proposal. Notwithstanding FAR 52.216-26, Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization, failure to meet the qualifying proposal date in the contract definitization schedule could result in the Contracting Officer withholding an amount up to 5 percent of all subsequent requests for financing until the Contracting Officer determines that a proposal is qualifying.
33 added, 88 removed
(c)
(c) If agreement on a definitive contract action to supersede this undefinitized contract action is not reached by the target date in paragraph (b) of this clause, or within any extension of it granted by the Contracting Officer, the Contracting Officer may, with the approval of the head of the contracting activity, determine a reasonable price or fee in accordance with subpart 15.4 and part 31 of the FAR, subject to Contractor appeal as provided in the Disputes clause. In any event, the Contractor shall proceed with completion of the contract, subject only to the Limitation of Government Liability clause.
(c)
(c) The schedule for definitizing this contract action is as follows [insert target date for definitization of the contract action and dates for submission of proposal, beginning of negotiations, and, if appropriate, submission of the make-or-buy and subcontracting plans and certified cost or pricing data]:
2 added, 2 removed
(i)
(i) All clauses required by the FAR on the date of execution of this underfinitized contract action for either fixed-price or cost-reimbursement contracts, as determined by the Contracting Officer under this paragraph (c);
(i)
(i) All clauses required by the FAR on the date of execution of this undefinitized contract action for either fixed-price or cost-reimbursement contracts, as determined by the Contracting Officer under this paragraph (d);
1 added, 1 removed
(2)
(2) To the extent consistent with paragraph (c)(1) of this clause, all clauses, terms, and conditions included in this undefinitized contract action shall continue in effect, except those that by their nature apply only to an undefinitized contract action.
(2)
(2) To the extent consistent with paragraph (d)(1) of this clause, all clauses, terms, and conditions included in this undefinitized contract action shall continue in effect, except those that by their nature apply only to an undefinitized contract action.
85 added, 21 removed
(d)
(d) The definitive contract resulting from this undefinitized contract action will include a negotiated ____________________ (insert "cost/price ceiling" or "firm-fixed price") in no event to exceed ____________________ (insert the not-to-exceed amount). (End of clause)
(d)
(d) If agreement on a definitive contract action to supersede this undefinitized contract action is not reached by the target date in paragraph (c) of this clause, or within any extension of it granted by the Contracting Officer, the Contracting Officer may, with the approval of the head of the contracting activity, determine a reasonable price or fee in accordance with FAR subpart 15.4 and part 31, subject to Contractor appeal as provided in the Disputes clause. In any event, the Contractor shall proceed with completion of the contract, subject only to the Limitation of Government Liability clause.
9 added, 5 removed
(3)
[Not present in prior version]
(3)
(3) Any other mutually agreeable clauses, terms, and conditions.
30 added, 4 removed
(e)
[Not present in prior version]
(e)
(e) The definitive contract resulting from this undefinitized contract action will include a negotiated___ [insert "cost/price ceiling" or "firm-fixed price"] in no event to exceed__[insert the not-to-exceed amount]. (End of clause)
MAY 2022 May 26, 2022
Removed in this version
Added in this version
Unchanged
DEC 2016 (previous)
MAY 2022 (current)
2 added, 2 removed
(a)
(a) A ___(insert specific type of contract action) is contemplated. The Contractor agrees to begin promptly negotiating with the Contracting Officer the terms of a definitive contract that will include (1) all clauses required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) on the date of execution of the underfinitized contract action, (2) all clauses required by law on the date of execution of the definitive contract action, and (3) any other mutually agreeable clauses, terms, and conditions. The Contractor agrees to submit a ___(insert type of proposal; e.g., fixed-price or cost-and-fee) proposal and certified cost or pricing data supporting its proposal.
(a)
(a) A ______(insert specific type of contract action) is contemplated. The Contractor agrees to begin promptly negotiating with the Contracting Officer the terms of a definitive contract that will include (1) all clauses required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) on the date of execution of the underfinitized contract action, (2) all clauses required by law on the date of execution of the definitive contract action, and (3) any other mutually agreeable clauses, terms, and conditions. The Contractor agrees to submit a ______(insert type of proposal; e.g., fixed-price or cost-and-fee) proposal and certified cost or pricing data supporting its proposal.
2 added, 2 removed
(d)
(d) The definitive contract resulting from this undefinitized contract action will include a negotiated __________ (insert "cost/price ceiling" or "firm-fixed price") in no event to exceed __________ (insert the not-to-exceed amount). (End of clause)
(d)
(d) The definitive contract resulting from this undefinitized contract action will include a negotiated ____________________ (insert "cost/price ceiling" or "firm-fixed price") in no event to exceed ____________________ (insert the not-to-exceed amount). (End of clause)
DEC 2016 December 22, 2016 SUBSTANTIVE
Earliest version available from the eCFR

Active Class Deviations

DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 16) Add clause 252.217-7027
MODIFIED
DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 17) Add clause 252.217-7027
MODIFIED
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