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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.
52.246-21 Warranty of Construction.
As prescribed in 46.710(e)(1), the contracting officer may insert a clause substantially as follows in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract (see 46.705(c)) is contemplated, and the use of a warranty clause has been approved under agency procedures:
Warranty of Construction (MAR 1994)
(a) In addition to any other warranties in this contract, the Contractor warrants, except as provided in paragraph (i) of this clause, that work performed under this contract conforms to the contract requirements and is free of any defect in equipment, material, or design furnished, or workmanship performed by the Contractor or any subcontractor or supplier at any tier.
(b) This warranty shall continue for a period of 1 year from the date of final acceptance of the work. If the Government takes possession of any part of the work before final acceptance, this warranty shall continue for a period of 1 year from the date the Government takes possession.
(c) The Contractor shall remedy at the Contractor's expense any failure to conform, or any defect. In addition, the Contractor shall remedy at the Contractor's expense any damage to Government-owned or controlled real or personal property, when that damage is the result of—
(1) The Contractor's failure to conform to contract requirements; or
(2) Any defect of equipment, material, workmanship, or design furnished.
(d) The Contractor shall restore any work damaged in fulfilling the terms and conditions of this clause. The Contractor's warranty with respect to work repaired or replaced will run for 1 year from the date of repair or replacement.
(e) The Contracting Officer shall notify the Contractor, in writing, within a reasonable time after the discovery of any failure, defect, or damage.
(f) If the Contractor fails to remedy any failure, defect, or damage within a reasonable time after receipt of notice, the Government shall have the right to replace, repair, or otherwise remedy the failure, defect, or damage at the Contractor's expense.
(g) With respect to all warranties, express or implied, from subcontractors, manufacturers, or suppliers for work performed and materials furnished under this contract, the Contractor shall—
(1) Obtain all warranties that would be given in normal commercial practice;
(2) Require all warranties to be executed, in writing, for the benefit of the Government, if directed by the Contracting Officer; and
(3) Enforce all warranties for the benefit of the Government, if directed by the Contracting Officer.
(h) In the event the Contractor's warranty under paragraph (b) of this clause has expired, the Government may bring suit at its expense to enforce a subcontractor's, manufacturer's, or supplier's warranty.
(i) Unless a defect is caused by the negligence of the Contractor or subcontractor or supplier at any tier, the Contractor shall not be liable for the repair of any defects of material or design furnished by the Government nor for the repair of any damage that results from any defect in Government-furnished material or design.
(j) This warranty shall not limit the Government's rights under the Inspection and Acceptance clause of this contract with respect to latent defects, gross mistakes, or fraud.
(End of clause)
Alternate I
(APR 1984). If the Government specifies in the contract the use of any equipment by
brand name and model,
the contracting officer may add a paragraph substantially the same as the following paragraph (k) to the basic clause:
(k) Defects in design or manufacture of equipment specified by the Government on a
brand name and model
basis, shall not be included in this warranty. In this event, the Contractor shall require any subcontractors, manufacturers, or suppliers thereof to execute their warranties, in writing, directly to the Government.
[48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 59 FR 11388, Mar. 10, 1994; 84 FR 38839, Aug. 7, 2019]
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-O0035
— DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 46)
(DFARS Part 246)
Add clause 52.246-21
46.710(e)
(e) (1) The contracting officer may insert a clause substantially the same as the clause at 52.246-21, Warranty of Construction, in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract (see 46.705(c)) is contemplated and the use of a warranty clause has been approved under agency procedures.
(2) If the Government specifies in the contract the use of any equipment by "brand name and model," the contracting officer may use the clause with its Alternate I.
DFARS Supplementary Guidance
246.710
(1) Use a clause substantially the same as the basic or one of the alternates of the clause at 252.246-7001 , Warranty of Data, in solicitations and contracts that include the clause at 252.227-7013 , Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software, when there is a need for greater protection or period of liability than provided by the inspection and warranty clauses prescribed in FAR part 46. (i) Use the basic clause in solicitations and contracts that are not firm-fixed price or fixed-price incentive. (ii) Use alternate I in fixed-price-incentive solicitations and contracts. (iii) Use alternate II in firm-fixed-price solicitations and contracts. (2) Use the clause at 252.246-7002 , Warranty of Construction (Germany), instead of the clause at FAR 52.246-21, Warranty of Construction, in solicitations and contracts for construction when a fixed-price contract will be awarded and contract performance will be in Germany. (3) When the solicitation includes the clause at 252.211-7003, Item Unique Identification and Valuation, which is prescribed in 211.274-5(a), and it is anticipated that the resulting contract will include a warranty for serialized items-- (i) Use the provision at 252.246-7005 , Notice of Warranty Tracking of Serialized Items, in the solicitation if the Government does not specify a warranty and offerors will be required to enter data with the offer; (ii) Use the clause at 252.246-7006 , Warranty Tracking of Serialized Items, in the solicitation and contract; and (iii) Include the following warranty attachments, available at https://www.pdrep.csd.disa.mil/pdrep_files/other/wsr.htm, in the solicitation and contract and see 246.710-70 : (A) Warranty Tracking Information. (B) Source of Repair Instructions.
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.
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 RFO46.710(e)
(e) (1) The contracting officer may insert a clause substantially the same as the clause at 52.246-21, Warranty of Construction, in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract (see 46.705(c)) is contemplated and the use of a warranty clause has been approved under agency procedures.
(2) If the Government specifies in the contract the use of any equipment by "brand name and model," the contracting officer may use the clause with its Alternate I.
DFARSDFARS Supplement (eCFR)⚠ May be superseded by RFO246.710
(1) Use a clause substantially the same as the basic or one of the alternates of the clause at 252.246-7001 , Warranty of Data, in solicitations and contracts that include the clause at 252.227-7013 , Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software, when there is a need for greater protection or period of liability than provided by the inspection and warranty clauses prescribed in FAR part 46. (i) Use the basic clause in solicitations and contracts that are not firm-fixed price or fixed-price incentive. (ii) Use alternate I in fixed-price-incentive solicitations and contracts. (iii) Use alternate II in firm-fixed-price solicitations and contracts. (2) Use the clause at 252.246-7002 , Warranty of Construction (Germany), instead of the clause at FAR 52.246-21, Warranty of Construction, in solicitations and contracts for construction when a fixed-price contract will be awarded and contract performance will be in Germany. (3) When the solicitation includes the clause at 252.211-7003, Item Unique Identification and Valuation, which is prescribed in 211.274-5(a), and it is anticipated that the resulting contract will include a warranty for serialized items-- (i) Use the provision at 252.246-7005 , Notice of Warranty Tracking of Serialized Items, in the solicitation if the Government does not specify a warranty and offerors will be required to enter data with the offer; (ii) Use the clause at 252.246-7006 , Warranty Tracking of Serialized Items, in the solicitation and contract; and (iii) Include the following warranty attachments, available at https://www.pdrep.csd.disa.mil/pdrep_files/other/wsr.htm, in the solicitation and contract and see 246.710-70 : (A) Warranty Tracking Information. (B) Source of Repair Instructions.
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
Minor revisions. The RFO version has formatting or editorial changes from the eCFR text.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
Unchanged
52.246-21 Warranty of Construction.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
2 added, 1 removed
As prescribed in 46.710(e)(1), the contracting officer may insert a clause substantially as follows in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract (see 46.705(c)) is contemplated, and the use of a warranty clause has been approved under agency procedures:
As prescribed in 46.710(e)(1), the contracting officer may insert a clause substantially as follows in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract (see 46.705 (c)) is contemplated, and the use of a warranty clause has been approved under agency procedures:
Warranty of Construction (MAR 1994)
Warranty of Construction (Mar 1994)
(a)
(a) In addition to any other warranties in this contract, the Contractor warrants, except as provided in paragraph (i) of this clause, that work performed under this contract conforms to the contract requirements and is free of any defect in equipment, material, or design furnished, or workmanship performed by the Contractor or any subcontractor or supplier at any tier.
(a)
(a) In addition to any other warranties in this contract, the Contractor warrants, except as provided in paragraph (i) of this clause, that work performed under this contract conforms to the contract requirements and is free of any defect in equipment, material, or design furnished, or workmanship performed by the Contractor or any subcontractor or supplier at any tier.
(b)
(b) This warranty shall continue for a period of 1 year from the date of final acceptance of the work. If the Government takes possession of any part of the work before final acceptance, this warranty shall continue for a period of 1 year from the date the Government takes possession.
(b)
(b) This warranty shall continue for a period of 1 year from the date of final acceptance of the work. If the Government takes possession of any part of the work before final acceptance, this warranty shall continue for a period of 1 year from the date the Government takes possession.
(c)
(c) The Contractor shall remedy at the Contractor's expense any failure to conform, or any defect. In addition, the Contractor shall remedy at the Contractor's expense any damage to Government-owned or controlled real or personal property, when that damage is the result of—
(c)
(c) The Contractor shall remedy at the Contractor’s expense any failure to conform, or any defect. In addition, the Contractor shall remedy at the Contractor’s expense any damage to Government-owned or controlled real or personal property, when that damage is the result of-
(1)
(1) The Contractor's failure to conform to contract requirements; or
(1)
(1) The Contractor’s failure to conform to contract requirements; or
(2)
(2) Any defect of equipment, material, workmanship, or design furnished.
(2)
(2) Any defect of equipment, material, workmanship, or design furnished.
(d)
(d) The Contractor shall restore any work damaged in fulfilling the terms and conditions of this clause. The Contractor's warranty with respect to work repaired or replaced will run for 1 year from the date of repair or replacement.
(d)
(d) The Contractor shall restore any work damaged in fulfilling the terms and conditions of this clause. The Contractor’s warranty with respect to work repaired or replaced will run for 1 year from the date of repair or replacement.
(e)
(e) The Contracting Officer shall notify the Contractor, in writing, within a reasonable time after the discovery of any failure, defect, or damage.
(e)
(e) The Contracting Officer shall notify the Contractor, in writing, within a reasonable time after the discovery of any failure, defect, or damage.
(f)
(f) If the Contractor fails to remedy any failure, defect, or damage within a reasonable time after receipt of notice, the Government shall have the right to replace, repair, or otherwise remedy the failure, defect, or damage at the Contractor's expense.
(f)
(f) If the Contractor fails to remedy any failure, defect, or damage within a reasonable time after receipt of notice, the Government shall have the right to replace, repair, or otherwise remedy the failure, defect, or damage at the Contractor’s expense.
(g)
(g) With respect to all warranties, express or implied, from subcontractors, manufacturers, or suppliers for work performed and materials furnished under this contract, the Contractor shall—
(g)
(g) With respect to all warranties, express or implied, from subcontractors, manufacturers, or suppliers for work performed and materials furnished under this contract, the Contractor shall-
(1)
(1) Obtain all warranties that would be given in normal commercial practice;
(1)
(1) Obtain all warranties that would be given in normal commercial practice;
(2)
(2) Require all warranties to be executed, in writing, for the benefit of the Government, if directed by the Contracting Officer; and
(2)
(2) Require all warranties to be executed, in writing, for the benefit of the Government, if directed by the Contracting Officer; and
(3)
(3) Enforce all warranties for the benefit of the Government, if directed by the Contracting Officer.
(3)
(3) Enforce all warranties for the benefit of the Government, if directed by the Contracting Officer.
(h)
(h) In the event the Contractor's warranty under paragraph (b) of this clause has expired, the Government may bring suit at its expense to enforce a subcontractor's, manufacturer's, or supplier's warranty.
(h)
(h) In the event the Contractor’s warranty under paragraph (b) of this clause has expired, the Government may bring suit at its expense to enforce a subcontractor’s, manufacturer’s, or supplier’s warranty.
(i)
(i) Unless a defect is caused by the negligence of the Contractor or subcontractor or supplier at any tier, the Contractor shall not be liable for the repair of any defects of material or design furnished by the Government nor for the repair of any damage that results from any defect in Government-furnished material or design.
(i)
(i) Unless a defect is caused by the negligence of the Contractor or subcontractor or supplier at any tier, the Contractor shall not be liable for the repair of any defects of material or design furnished by the Government nor for the repair of any damage that results from any defect in Government-furnished material or design.
(j)
(j) This warranty shall not limit the Government's rights under the Inspection and Acceptance clause of this contract with respect to latent defects, gross mistakes, or fraud.
(j)
(j) This warranty shall not limit the Government’s rights under the Inspection and Acceptance clause of this contract with respect to latent defects, gross mistakes, or fraud.
(End of clause)
(End of clause)
2 added, 2 removed
Alternate I (APR 1984). If the Government specifies in the contract the use of any equipment by brand name and model, the contracting officer may add a paragraph substantially the same as the following paragraph (k) to the basic clause:
Alternate I (Apr 1984). If the Government specifies in the contract the use of any equipment by "brand name and model," the contracting officer may add a paragraph substantially the same as the following paragraph (k) to the basic clause:
2 added, 2 removed
(k)
(k) Defects in design or manufacture of equipment specified by the Government on a brand name and model basis, shall not be included in this warranty. In this event, the Contractor shall require any subcontractors, manufacturers, or suppliers thereof to execute their warranties, in writing, directly to the Government.
(k)
(k) Defects in design or manufacture of equipment specified by the Government on a "brand name and model" basis, shall not be included in this warranty. In this event, the Contractor shall require any subcontractors, manufacturers, or suppliers thereof to execute their warranties, in writing, directly to the Government.
21 removed
[48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 59 FR 11388, Mar. 10, 1994; 84 FR 38839, Aug. 7, 2019]
Substantive changes. The RFO prescription differs materially from the eCFR prescription.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
Unchanged
52.246-21 Warranty of Construction.: Prescription
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
1 removed
(e)
(e) (1) The contracting officer may insert a clause substantially the same as the clause at 52.246-21, Warranty of Construction, in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract (see 46.705(c)) is contemplated and the use of a warranty clause has been approved under agency procedures.
(e)
(1) The contracting officer may insert a clause substantially the same as the clause at 52.246-21, Warranty of Construction, in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract (see 46.705(c)) is contemplated and the use of a warranty clause has been approved under agency procedures.
29 removed
(2)
(2) If the Government specifies in the contract the use of any equipment by "brand name and model," the contracting officer may use the clause with its Alternate I.