Overview
This section outlines the Contracting Officer’s authority to temporarily halt work on construction or architect-engineer contracts and establishes the contractor's right to seek compensation for unreasonable delays.
Key Rules
- Applicability: Specifically pertains to construction or architect-engineer (A-E) contracts.
- CO Authority: The Contracting Officer has the right to order a suspension of work for a "reasonable period of time."
- Claim Eligibility: If a suspension is deemed "unreasonable," the contractor is entitled to submit a written claim for increased costs.
- Profit Exclusion: Recovery is limited to the actual increase in the cost of performance; profit is explicitly excluded from the claim.
Practical Implications
- Contractors should maintain detailed records of all expenses incurred during a suspension to prove the financial impact of the delay.
- Since profit is excluded, a suspension typically results in a "break-even" recovery for the contractor regarding the delayed period, rather than a full equitable adjustment.