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FAR Clause ACTIVE

52.204-2

Security Requirements.
View on acquisition.gov · View on eCFR.gov
Effective Date
MAR 2021
Active Deviations
1
Versions
3 (since 2017-01-01)
RFO
RFO Removes This Clause

The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul marks this clause as [Reserved]. The clause content below is as it appears in the most recent eCFR data, which has not yet incorporated the RFO. For contracts using the RFO model, this clause is removed.

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DEV
This clause is modified by 1 active class deviation
  • 2026-O0025 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 40)
View per-deviation details →
52.204-2 Security Requirements.

As prescribed in 4.404(a), insert the following clause:

Security Requirements (MAR 2021)

(a) This clause applies to the extent that this contract involves access to information classified
Confidential, Secret,
or
Top Secret.

(b) The Contractor shall comply with (1) the Security Agreement (DD Form 441), including the
National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual
(32 CFR part 117), and (2) any revisions to that manual, notice of which has been furnished to the Contractor.

(c) If, subsequent to the date of this contract, the security classification or security requirements under this contract are changed by the Government and if the changes cause an increase or decrease in security costs or otherwise affect any other term or condition of this contract, the contract shall be subject to an equitable adjustment as if the changes were directed under the Changes clause of this contract.

(d) The Contractor agrees to insert terms that conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph (d) but excluding any reference to the Changes clause of this contract, in all subcontracts under this contract that involve access to classified information.

(End of clause)

Alternate I
(APR 1984). If a cost contract for research and development with an educational institution is contemplated, add the following paragraphs (e), (f), and (g) to the basic clause:

(e) If a change in security requirements, as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), results (1) in a change in the security classification of this contract or any of its elements from an unclassified status or a lower classification to a higher classification, or (2) in more restrictive area controls than previously required, the Contractor shall exert every reasonable effort compatible with the Contractor's established policies to continue the performance of work under the contract in compliance with the change in security classification or requirements. If, despite reasonable efforts, the Contractor determines that the continuation of work under this contract is not practicable because of the change in security classification or requirements, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing. Until resolution of the problem is made by the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall continue safeguarding all classified material as required by this contract.

(f) After receiving the written notification, the Contracting Officer shall explore the circumstances surrounding the proposed change in security classification or requirements, and shall endeavor to work out a mutually satisfactory method whereby the Contractor can continue performance of the work under this contract.

(g) If, 15 days after receipt by the Contracting Officer of the notification of the Contractor's stated inability to proceed, (1) the application to this contract of the change in security classification or requirements has not been withdrawn or (2) a mutually satisfactory method for continuing performance of work under this contract has not been agreed upon, the Contractor may request the Contracting Officer to terminate the contract in whole or in part. The Contracting Officer shall terminate the contract in whole or in part, as may be appropriate, and the termination shall be deemed a termination under the terms of the Termination for the Convenience of the Government clause.

Alternate II
(APR 1984). If employee identification is required for security or other reasons in a construction contract or architect-engineer contract, add the following paragraph (e) to the basic clause:

(e) The Contractor shall be responsible for furnishing to each employee and for requiring each employee engaged on the work to display such identification as may be approved and directed by the Contracting Officer. All prescribed identification shall immediately be delivered to the Contracting Officer, for cancellation upon the release of any employee. When required by the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall obtain and submit fingerprints of all persons employed or to be employed on the project.

[48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 61 FR 31617, June 20, 1996; 86 FR 13794, Mar. 10, 2021; 89 FR 101831, Dec. 16, 2024]
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-O0025 →
4.404(a)
(a) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.204-2, Security Requirements, in solicitations and contracts when the contract may require access to classified information, unless the conditions specified in paragraph (d) of this section apply.
Prescription data sourced from eCFR as of 2026-06-10 20:31 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.

RFO RFO Version Overhauled clause text
The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul publishes a revised version of this clause. See the RFO Version tab for the controlling authority under the RFO model.

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R-DFARS R-DFARS Prescription Per Deviation 2026-O0025 (DFARS Part 240)
2026-O0025: DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 40) — DFARS Part 240

View Deviation 2026-O0025 →

FAR FAR Prescription ⚠ May be superseded by RFO 4.404(a)
(a) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.204-2, Security Requirements, in solicitations and contracts when the contract may require access to classified information, unless the conditions specified in paragraph (d) of this section apply.

View on acquisition.gov · View on eCFR.gov

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 2017-01-01 to 2025-01-03.
JAN 2025 January 3, 2025 CURRENT SUBSTANTIVE
DEC 2024 December 16, 2024 SUBSTANTIVE
Removed in this version
Added in this version
Unchanged
JAN 2017 (previous)
DEC 2024 (current)
4 added, 2 removed
(b)
(b) The Contractor shall comply with (1) the Security Agreement (DD Form 441), including the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (DOD 5220.22-M), and (2) any revisions to that manual, notice of which has been furnished to the Contractor.
(b)
(b) The Contractor shall comply with (1) the Security Agreement (DD Form 441), including the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (32 CFR part 117), and (2) any revisions to that manual, notice of which has been furnished to the Contractor.
JAN 2017 January 1, 2017 SUBSTANTIVE
Earliest version available from the eCFR

RFO Version

Comparison of the codified eCFR text against the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul revision. Highlights show additions (green) and deletions (red, struck through).

Clause Text

RFO marks this clause as Reserved. The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul removed this clause under the overhauled FAR model. The eCFR text on the Current Text tab remains in force for contracts not using the RFO model.
Applied to DoD contracts via Class Deviation 2026-O0025 (effective 2026-02-01) .

Prescription

RFO prescription not available. See the eCFR prescription on the Prescription tab.

Source: acquisition.gov RFO Part 52

Active Class Deviations

DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 40) Modify clause 52.204-2
MODIFIED

Related Clauses

Referenced by

52.204-16 52.204-18
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