338D. Contract AdministrationContract Administration involves those activities performed by Government officials after a contract has been awarded. Contract Administration encompasses all dealings between the Government and the contractor from the time the contract is awarded until the work has been completed and accepted
or the contract terminated, payment has been made, and disputes have been resolved. The specific nature and extent of contract administration varies from contract to contract. It can range from the minimum acceptance of a delivery and payment to the contractor to extensive
involvement by program, audit and procurement officials throughout the contract term. Factors influencing the degree of contract administration include the nature of the work,
the type of contract, and the experience of the personnel involved. In addition to the statement of work or specifications that describe the requirement to be fulfilled, each contract will have numerous standard FAR clauses that articulate the Government’s rights, the contractor’s
remedies, and govern the parties contractual relationship.
1. Contract ChangesDuring
performance, many changes maybe required in order to fix inaccurate or defective specifications, react to newly
encountered circumstances, or modify the work to ensure that the contract meets government requirements. Any changes made to a contract may force the contractor to perform more work, or to perform
in a more costly manner, and may require additional funding through a modification to the contract. The Government is authorized to make these changes to the contract under the standard FAR Changes clause which allows the Government to make substantive changes to a contract, so long as the changes are within the general scope of the contract. Only a Contracting Officer acting within his or her proper authority can order changes to the contract.
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