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FAR Clause ACTIVE

52.250-1

Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804.
View on acquisition.gov · View on eCFR.gov
Effective Date
APR 1984
Active Deviations
1
Versions
1 (since 2017-01-01)
RFO
RFO Version Available

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.

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DEV
This clause is modified by 1 active class deviation
  • 2026-O0030 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 50)
View per-deviation details →
52.250-1 Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804.

As prescribed in 50.104-4, insert the following clause:

Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804 (APR 1984)

(a)
Contractor's principal officials,
as used in this clause, means directors, officers, managers, superintendents, or other representatives supervising or directing—

(1) All or substantially all of the Contractor's business;

(2) All or substantially all of the Contractor's operations at any one plant or separate location in which this contract is being performed; or

(3) A separate and complete major industrial operation in connection with the performance of this contract.

(b) Under Pub. L. 85-804 (50 U.S.C 1431-1435) and Executive Order 10789, as amended, and regardless of any other provisions of this contract, the Government shall, subject to the limitations contained in the other paragraphs of this clause, indemnify the Contractor against—

(1) Claims (including reasonable expenses of litigation or settlement) by third persons (including employees of the Contractor) for death; personal injury; or loss of, damage to, or loss of use of property;

(2) Loss of, damage to, or loss of use of Contractor property, excluding loss of profit; and

(3) Loss of, damage to, or loss of use of Government property, excluding loss of profit.

(c) This indemnification applies only to the extent that the claim, loss, or damage (1) arises out of or results from a risk defined in this contract as unusually hazardous or nuclear and (2) is not compensated for by insurance or otherwise. Any such claim, loss, or damage, to the extent that it is within the deductible amounts of the Contractor's insurance, is not covered under this clause. If insurance coverage or other financial protection in effect on the date the approving official authorizes use of this clause is reduced, the Government's liability under this clause shall not increase as a result.

(d) When the claim, loss, or damage is caused by willful misconduct or lack of good faith on the part of any of the Contractor's principal officials, the Contractor shall not be indemnified for—

(1) Government claims against the Contractor (other than those arising through subrogation); or

(2) Loss or damage affecting the Contractor's property.

(e) With the Contracting Officer's prior written approval, the Contractor may, in any subcontract under this contract, indemnify the subcontractor against any risk defined in this contract as unusually hazardous or nuclear. This indemnification shall provide, between the Contractor and the subcontractor, the same rights and duties, and the same provisions for notice, furnishing of evidence or proof, and Government settlement or defense of claims as this clause provides. The Contracting Officer may also approve indemnification of subcontractors at any lower tier, under the same terms and conditions. The Government shall indemnify the Contractor against liability to subcontractors incurred under subcontract provisions approved by the Contracting Officer.

(f) The rights and obligations of the parties under this clause shall survive this contract's termination, expiration, or completion. The Government shall make no payment under this clause unless the agency head determines that the amount is just and reasonable. The Government may pay the Contractor or subcontractors, or may directly pay parties to whom the Contractor or subcontractors may be liable.

(g) The Contractor shall—

(1) Promptly notify the Contracting Officer of any claim or action against, or any loss by, the Contractor or any subcontractors that may reasonably be expected to involve indemnification under this clause;

(2) Immediately furnish to the Government copies of all pertinent papers the Contractor receives;

(3) Furnish evidence or proof of any claim, loss, or damage covered by this clause in the manner and form the Government requires; and

(4) Comply with the Government's directions and execute any authorizations required in connection with settlement or defense of claims or actions.

(h) The Government may direct, control, or assist in settling or defending any claim or action that may involve indemnification under this clause.

(End of clause)

Alternate I
(APR 1984). In cost-reimbursement contracts, add the following paragraph (i) to the basic clause:

(i) The cost of insurance (including self-insurance programs) covering a risk defined in this contract as unusually hazardous or nuclear shall not be reimbursed except to the extent that the Contracting Officer has required or approved this insurance. The Government's obligations under this clause are—

(1) Excepted from the release required under this contract's clause relating to allowable cost; and

(2) Not affected by this contract's Limitation of Cost or Limitation of Funds clause.

[48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 72 FR 63037, Nov. 7, 2007]
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-O0030 →
50.104-4
The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.250-1, Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804, in contracts whenever the approving official determines that the contractor shall be indemnified against unusually hazardous or nuclear risks (also see 50.104-3(b)(3)). In cost-reimbursement contracts, the contracting officer shall use the clause with its Alternate I.
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.

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-O0030 (DFARS Part 250)
2026-O0030: DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 50) — DFARS Part 250

View Deviation 2026-O0030 →

FAR FAR Prescription ⚠ May be superseded by RFO 50.104-4
The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.250-1, Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804, in contracts whenever the approving official determines that the contractor shall be indemnified against unusually hazardous or nuclear risks (also see 50.104-3(b)(3)). In cost-reimbursement contracts, the contracting officer shall use the clause with its Alternate I.

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.

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
52.250-1 Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
3 added, 3 removed
(a)
(a) Contractor's principal officials, as used in this clause, means directors, officers, managers, superintendents, or other representatives supervising or directing—
(a)
(a) "Contractor’s principal officials," as used in this clause, means directors, officers, managers, superintendents, or other representatives supervising or directing-
4 added, 5 removed
(b)
(b) Under Pub. L. 85-804 (50 U.S.C 1431-1435) and Executive Order 10789, as amended, and regardless of any other provisions of this contract, the Government shall, subject to the limitations contained in the other paragraphs of this clause, indemnify the Contractor against—
(b)
(b) Under Public Law85-804 (50 U.S.C. 1431-1435) and Executive Order 10789, as amended, and regardless of any other provisions of this contract, the Government shall, subject to the limitations contained in the other paragraphs of this clause, indemnify the Contractor against-
1 added
(1)
(1) Promptly notify the Contracting Officer of any claim or action against, or any loss by, the Contractor or any subcontractors that may reasonably be expected to involve indemnification under this clause;
(1)
(1) Promptly notify the Contracting Officer of any claim or action against, or any loss by, the Contractor or any subcontractors that may be reasonably be expected to involve indemnification under this clause;
15 removed
[48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 72 FR 63037, Nov. 7, 2007]
Applied to DoD contracts via Class Deviation 2026-O0030 (effective 2026-02-01) .

Prescription

Substantive changes. The RFO prescription differs materially from the eCFR prescription.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
Unchanged
52.250-1 Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804.: Prescription
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
111 added, 35 removed
The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.250-1, Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804, in contracts whenever the approving official determines that the contractor shall be indemnified against unusually hazardous or nuclear risks (also see 50.104-3(b)(3)). In cost-reimbursement contracts, the contracting officer shall use the clause with its Alternate I.
Subject to the limitations in 50.102-3, residual powers may be used in accordance with the policies in 50.101-2 when necessary and appropriate, all circumstances considered. In authorizing the inclusion of the clause at 52.250-1, Indemnification Under Public Law 85-804, in a contract or subcontract, an agency head may require the indemnified contractor to provide and maintain financial protection of the type and amount determined appropriate. In deciding whether to approve use of the indemnification clause, and in determining the type and amount of financial protection the indemnified contractor is to provide and maintain, an agency head must consider such factors as self-insurance, other proof of financial responsibility, workers' compensation insurance, and the availability, cost, and terms of private insurance. The approval and determination must be final.

Source: acquisition.gov RFO Part 52 · Prescribing Part 50

Active Class Deviations

DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 50) Modify clause 52.250-1
MODIFIED
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