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DFARS Clause ACTIVE

252.237-7023

Continuation of Essential Contractor Services.
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Effective Date
OCT 2010
Active Deviations
2
Versions
2 (since 2016-12-22)
DEV
This clause is modified by 2 active class deviations
  • 2026-O0023 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 37)
    Add clause 252.237-7023
  • 2026-O0002 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 1)
View per-deviation details →
252.237-7023 Continuation of Essential Contractor Services.

As prescribed in 237.7603(a), use the following clause:

Continuation of Essential Contractor Services (OCT 2010)

(a)
Definitions.
As used in this clause-

(1)
Essential contractor service
means a service provided by a firm or individual under contract to DoD to support mission-essential functions, such as support of vital systems, including ships owned, leased, or operated in support of military missions or roles at sea; associated support activities, including installation, garrison, and base support services; and similar services provided to foreign military sales customers under the Security Assistance Program. Services are essential if the effectiveness of defense systems or operations has the potential to be seriously impaired by the interruption of these services, as determined by the appropriate functional commander or civilian equivalent.

(2)
Mission-essential functions
means those organizational activities that must be performed under all circumstances to achieve DoD component missions or responsibilities, as determined by the appropriate functional commander or civilian equivalent. Failure to perform or sustain these functions would significantly affect DoD's ability to provide vital services or exercise authority, direction, and control.

(b) The Government has identified all or a portion of the contractor services performed under this contract as essential contractor services in support of mission-essential functions. These services are listed in attachment __, Mission-Essential Contractor Services, dated ________.

(c)(1) The Mission-Essential Contractor Services Plan submitted by the Contractor, is incorporated in this contract.

(2) The Contractor shall maintain and update its plan as necessary. The Contractor shall provide all plan updates to the Contracting Officer for approval.

(3) As directed by the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall participate in training events, exercises, and drills associated with Government efforts to test the effectiveness of continuity of operations procedures and practices.

(d)(1) Notwithstanding any other clause of this contract, the Contractor shall be responsible to perform those services identified as essential contractor services during crisis situations (as directed by the Contracting Officer), in accordance with its Mission-Essential Contractor Services Plan.

(2) In the event the Contractor anticipates not being able to perform any of the essential contractor services identified in accordance with paragraph (b) of this clause during a crisis situation, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer or other designated representative as expeditiously as possible and use its best efforts to cooperate with the Government in the Government's efforts to maintain the continuity of operations.

(e) The Government reserves the right in such crisis situations to use Federal employees, military personnel, or contract support from other contractors, or to enter into new contracts for essential contractor services.

(f)
Changes.
The Contractor shall segregate and separately identify all costs incurred in continuing performance of essential services in a crisis situation. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer of an increase or decrease in costs within ninety days after continued performance has been directed by the Contracting Officer, or within any additional period that the Contracting Officer approves in writing, but not later than the date of final payment under the contract. The Contractor's notice shall include the Contractor's proposal for an equitable adjustment and any data supporting the increase or decrease in the form prescribed by the Contracting Officer. The parties shall negotiate an equitable price adjustment to the contract price, delivery schedule, or both as soon as is practicable after receipt of the Contractor's proposal.

(g) The Contractor shall include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (g), in subcontracts for the essential services.

(End of clause)

[75 FR 66682, Oct. 29, 2010]
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-O0023 → · View deviation: 2026-O0002 →

R-DFARS Prescription Source

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

  • 2026-O0023 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 37) (DFARS Part 237)
    Add clause 252.237-7023
237.7603(a)
(a) Use the clause at 252.237-7023, Continuation of Essential Contractor Services in all solicitations and contracts for services that are in support of mission-essential functions.
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-O0023 (DFARS Part 237)
2026-O0023: DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 37) — DFARS Part 237

View Deviation 2026-O0023 →

DFARS DFARS Supplement (eCFR) ⚠ May be superseded by RFO 237.7603(a)
(a) Use the clause at 252.237-7023, Continuation of Essential Contractor Services in all solicitations and contracts for services that are in support of mission-essential functions.

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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.

2 versions tracked from 2016-12-22 to 2022-05-26.
MAY 2022 May 26, 2022 CURRENT SUBSTANTIVE
Removed in this version
Added in this version
Unchanged
DEC 2016 (previous)
MAY 2022 (current)
2 added, 2 removed
(b)
(b) The Government has identified all or a portion of the contractor services performed under this contract as essential contractor services in support of mission-essential functions. These services are listed in attachment _, Mission-Essential Contractor Services, dated ____.
(b)
(b) The Government has identified all or a portion of the contractor services performed under this contract as essential contractor services in support of mission-essential functions. These services are listed in attachment __, Mission-Essential Contractor Services, dated ________.
DEC 2016 December 22, 2016 SUBSTANTIVE
Earliest version available from the eCFR

Active Class Deviations

DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 37) Add clause 252.237-7023
MODIFIED
DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 1) Modify clause 252.237-7023
MODIFIED

Related Clauses

Referenced by

252.237-7024
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