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The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul has published a revised version of this clause. The RFO version supersedes the eCFR text below for contracts using the RFO model; see the RFO deviation for applicability.
52.216-26 Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization.
As prescribed in 16.603-4(c), insert the following clause:
Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization (DEC 2002)
(a)
Reimbursement rate.
Pending the placing of the definitive contract referred to in this letter contract, the Government will promptly reimburse the Contractor for all allowable costs under this contract at the following rates:
(1) One hundred percent of approved costs representing financing payments to subcontractors under fixed-price subcontracts, provided that the Government's payments to the Contractor will not exceed 80 percent of the allowable costs of those subcontractors.
(2) One hundred percent of approved costs representing cost-reimbursement subcontracts;
provided,
that the Government's payments to the Contractor shall not exceed 85 percent of the allowable costs of those subcontractors.
(3) Eighty-five percent of all other approved costs.
(b)
Limitation of reimbursement.
To determine the amounts payable to the Contractor under this letter contract, the Contracting Officer shall determine allowable costs in accordance with the applicable cost principles in part 31 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The total reimbursement made under this paragraph shall not exceed 85 percent of the maximum amount of the Government's liability, as stated in this contract.
(c)
Invoicing.
Payments shall be made promptly to the Contractor when requested as work progresses, but (except for small business concerns) not more often than every 2 weeks, in amounts approved by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may submit to an authorized representative of the Contracting Officer, in such form and reasonable detail as the representative may require, an invoice or voucher supported by a statement of the claimed allowable cost incurred by the Contractor in the performance of this contract.
(d)
Allowable costs.
For the purpose of determining allowable costs, the term
costs
includes—
(1) Those recorded costs that result, at the time of the request for reimbursement, from payment by cash, check, or other form of actual payment for items or services purchased directly for the contract;
(2) When the Contractor is not delinquent in payment of costs of contract performance in the ordinary course of business, costs incurred, but not necessarily paid, for—
(i) Supplies and services purchased directly for the contract and associated financing payments to subcontractors, provided payments determined due will be made—
(A) In accordance with the terms and conditions of a subcontract or invoice; and
(B) Ordinarily within 30 days of the submission of the Contractor's payment request to the Government;
(ii) Materials issued from the Contractor's stores inventory and placed in the production process for use on the contract;
(iii) Direct labor;
(iv) Direct travel;
(v) Other direct in-house costs; and
(vi) Properly allocable and allowable indirect costs as shown on the records maintained by the Contractor for purposes of obtaining reimbursement under Government contracts; and
(3) The amount of financing payments that the Contractor has paid by cash, check, or other forms of payment to subcontractors.
(e)
Small business concerns.
A small business concern may receive more frequent payments than every 2 weeks.
(f)
Audit.
At any time before final payment, the Contracting Officer may have the Contractor's invoices or vouchers and statements of costs audited. Any payment may be (1) reduced by any amounts found by the Contracting Officer not to constitute allowable costs or (2) adjusted for overpayments or underpayments made on preceding invoices or vouchers.
(End of clause)
[48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 65 FR 16283, Mar. 27, 2000; 67 FR 70521, Nov. 22, 2002]
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.
This clause is prescribed in the R-DFARS by the following deviation:
2026-O0027
— DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 17)
(DFARS Part 217)
Add clause 52.216-26
16.603-4(c)
(c) The contracting officer shall also insert the clause at 52.216-26, Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization, in solicitations and contracts if a cost-reimbursement definitive contract is contemplated, unless the acquisition involves conversion, alteration, or repair of ships.
DFARS Supplementary Guidance
216.603-4
(b)(2) See 217.7405 (a) for additional guidance regarding use of the clause at FAR 52.216-24, Limitation of Government Liability. (3) Use the clause at 252.217-7027, Contract Definitization, in accordance with its prescription 217.7406 (b), instead of the clause at FAR 52.216-25, Contract Definitization.
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.
RFORFO VersionOverhauled 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.
FARFAR Prescription⚠ May be superseded by RFO16.603-4(c)
(c) The contracting officer shall also insert the clause at 52.216-26, Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization, in solicitations and contracts if a cost-reimbursement definitive contract is contemplated, unless the acquisition involves conversion, alteration, or repair of ships.
DFARSDFARS Supplement (eCFR)⚠ May be superseded by RFO216.603-4
(b)(2) See 217.7405 (a) for additional guidance regarding use of the clause at FAR 52.216-24, Limitation of Government Liability. (3) Use the clause at 252.217-7027, Contract Definitization, in accordance with its prescription 217.7406 (b), instead of the clause at FAR 52.216-25, Contract Definitization.
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.
No version history available from 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
Substantive changes. The RFO version differs materially from the eCFR text.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
Unchanged
52.216-26 Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
As prescribed in 16.603-4(c), insert the following clause:
As prescribed in 16.603-4(c) , insert the following clause:
Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization (DEC 2002)
Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization (Dec 2002)
(a)
(a)
Reimbursement rate.
Pending the placing of the definitive contract referred to in this letter contract, the Government will promptly reimburse the Contractor for all allowable costs under this contract at the following rates:
(a)
(a) Reimbursement rate . Pending the placing of the definitive contract referred to in this letter contract, the Government will promptly reimburse the Contractor for all allowable costs under this contract at the following rates:
(1)
(1) One hundred percent of approved costs representing financing payments to subcontractors under fixed-price subcontracts, provided that the Government's payments to the Contractor will not exceed 80 percent of the allowable costs of those subcontractors.
(1)
(1) One hundred percent of approved costs representing financing payments to subcontractors under fixed-price subcontracts, provided that the Government’s payments to the Contractor will not exceed 80 percent of the allowable costs of those subcontractors.
(2)
(2) One hundred percent of approved costs representing cost-reimbursement subcontracts;
provided,
that the Government's payments to the Contractor shall not exceed 85 percent of the allowable costs of those subcontractors.
(2)
(2) One hundred percent of approved costs representing cost-reimbursement subcontracts; provided , that the Government’s payments to the Contractor shall not exceed 85 percent of the allowable costs of those subcontractors.
(3)
(3) Eighty-five percent of all other approved costs.
(3)
(3) Eighty-five percent of all other approved costs.
(b)
(b)
Limitation of reimbursement.
To determine the amounts payable to the Contractor under this letter contract, the Contracting Officer shall determine allowable costs in accordance with the applicable cost principles in part 31 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The total reimbursement made under this paragraph shall not exceed 85 percent of the maximum amount of the Government's liability, as stated in this contract.
(b)
(b) Limitation of reimbursement . To determine the amounts payable to the Contractor under this letter contract, the Contracting Officer shall determine allowable costs in accordance with the applicable cost principles in part 31 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The total reimbursement made under this paragraph shall not exceed 85 percent of the maximum amount of the Government’s liability, as stated in this contract.
(c)
(c)
Invoicing.
Payments shall be made promptly to the Contractor when requested as work progresses, but (except for small business concerns) not more often than every 2 weeks, in amounts approved by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may submit to an authorized representative of the Contracting Officer, in such form and reasonable detail as the representative may require, an invoice or voucher supported by a statement of the claimed allowable cost incurred by the Contractor in the performance of this contract.
(c)
(c) Invoicing . Payments shall be made promptly to the Contractor when requested as work progresses, but (except for small business concerns) not more often than every 2 weeks, in amounts approved by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may submit to an authorized representative of the Contracting Officer, in such form and reasonable detail as the representative may require, an invoice or voucher supported by a statement of the claimed allowable cost incurred by the Contractor in the performance of this contract.
2 added, 2 removed
(d)
(d) Allowable costs. For the purpose of determining allowable costs, the term costs includes—
(d)
(d) Allowable costs. For the purpose of determining allowable costs, the term "costs" includes-
(1)
(1) Those recorded costs that result, at the time of the request for reimbursement, from payment by cash, check, or other form of actual payment for items or services purchased directly for the contract;
(1)
(1) Those recorded costs that result, at the time of the request for reimbursement, from payment by cash, check, or other form of actual payment for items or services purchased directly for the contract;
(2)
(2) When the Contractor is not delinquent in payment of costs of contract performance in the ordinary course of business, costs incurred, but not necessarily paid, for—
(2)
(2) When the Contractor is not delinquent in payment of costs of contract performance in the ordinary course of business, costs incurred, but not necessarily paid, for-
(i)
(i) Supplies and services purchased directly for the contract and associated financing payments to subcontractors, provided payments determined due will be made—
(i)
(i) Supplies and services purchased directly for the contract and associated financing payments to subcontractors, provided payments determined due will be made-
(A)
(A) In accordance with the terms and conditions of a subcontract or invoice; and
(A)
(A) In accordance with the terms and conditions of a subcontract or invoice; and
(B)
(B) Ordinarily within 30 days of the submission of the Contractor's payment request to the Government;
(B)
(B) Ordinarily within 30 days of the submission of the Contractor’s payment request to the Government;
(ii)
(ii) Materials issued from the Contractor's stores inventory and placed in the production process for use on the contract;
(ii)
(ii) Materials issued from the Contractor’s stores inventory and placed in the production process for use on the contract;
(iii)
(iii) Direct labor;
(iii)
(iii) Direct labor;
(iv)
(iv) Direct travel;
(iv)
(iv) Direct travel;
(v)
(v) Other direct in-house costs; and
(v)
(v) Other direct in-house costs; and
(vi)
(vi) Properly allocable and allowable indirect costs as shown on the records maintained by the Contractor for purposes of obtaining reimbursement under Government contracts; and
(vi)
(vi) Properly allocable and allowable indirect costs as shown on the records maintained by the Contractor for purposes of obtaining reimbursement under Government contracts; and
(3)
(3) The amount of financing payments that the Contractor has paid by cash, check, or other forms of payment to subcontractors.
(3)
(3) The amount of financing payments that the Contractor has paid by cash, check, or other forms of payment to subcontractors.
(e)
(e)
Small business concerns.
A small business concern may receive more frequent payments than every 2 weeks.
(e)
(e) Small business concerns . A small business concern may receive more frequent payments than every 2 weeks.
2 added, 30 removed
(f)
(f) Audit. At any time before final payment, the Contracting Officer may have the Contractor's invoices or vouchers and statements of costs audited. Any payment may be (1) reduced by any amounts found by the Contracting Officer not to constitute allowable costs or (2) adjusted for overpayments or underpayments made on preceding invoices or vouchers.
(f)
(f) Audit. At any time before final payment, the Contracting Officer may have the Contractor’s invoices or vouchers and statements of costs audited. Any payment may be-
16 added
(1)
(1)
(1) Reduced by any amounts found by the Contracting Officer not to constitute allowable costs; or
12 added
(2)
(2)
(2) Adjusted for overpayments or underpayments made on preceding invoices or vouchers.
(End of clause)
(End of clause)
21 removed
[48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 65 FR 16283, Mar. 27, 2000; 67 FR 70521, Nov. 22, 2002]
Minor revisions. The RFO prescription has formatting or editorial changes from the eCFR prescription.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
Unchanged
52.216-26 Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization.: Prescription
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
1 added, 1 removed
(c)
(c) The contracting officer shall also insert the clause at 52.216-26, Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization, in solicitations and contracts if a cost-reimbursement definitive contract is contemplated, unless the acquisition involves conversion, alteration, or repair of ships.
(c)
(c) The contracting officer must also insert the clause at 52.216-26, Payments of Allowable Costs Before Definitization, in solicitations and contracts if a cost-reimbursement definitive contract is contemplated, unless the acquisition involves conversion, alteration, or repair of ships.