Overview
FAR 36.516 prescribes the use of the "Quantity Surveys" clause in fixed-price construction contracts where payments are based on unit prices and measured quantities of work performed. It establishes the criteria for determining whether the government or the contractor is responsible for conducting the technical surveys required for payment verification.
Key Rules
- Applicability: The clause (FAR 52.236-16) is intended for fixed-price construction solicitations and contracts that utilize unit pricing and require quantity surveys to calculate payments.
- Standard Usage: The basic clause is used when the government intends to perform the original and final surveys to verify work quantities.
- Alternate Usage: The clause must be used with its Alternate I if the contractor is required to perform the surveys.
- Approval Requirement: Shifting the survey responsibility to the contractor requires a formal determination at a management level above the Contracting Officer, certifying that it is "impracticable" for government personnel to perform the task.
Practical Implications
- This section protects the government’s interest by ensuring that payment for unit-priced work (such as excavation or dredging) is based on accurate physical measurements rather than mere estimates.
- Contractors should carefully check for the inclusion of "Alternate I," as it shifts the technical and financial burden of performing complex surveys from the government to the contractor.