52.236-17 Layout of Work
Source: FAR 52.236-17 on acquisition.gov
Contractors must accurately lay out construction work using government benchmarks and are financially responsible for maintaining layout marks and any costs from their negligent destruction.
Overview
FAR 52.236-17, "Layout of Work," establishes the contractor's responsibility for accurately laying out construction work using government-provided base lines and benchmarks. The clause requires the contractor to provide all necessary materials, equipment, and labor for layout activities at their own expense. Contractors must ensure that all work is executed according to the lines and grades specified by the Contracting Officer and are responsible for maintaining and preserving layout markers until authorized removal. If layout marks are destroyed due to contractor negligence, the government may replace them and deduct the cost from the contractor's payments.
Key Rules
- Contractor Layout Responsibility
- Contractors must lay out work from government-established base lines and benchmarks and are responsible for all related measurements.
- Provision of Layout Materials
- Contractors must supply all stakes, templates, equipment, and labor needed for layout at their own expense.
- Execution to Specified Lines and Grades
- Work must be executed to the lines and grades established or indicated by the Contracting Officer.
- Preservation of Layout Marks
- Contractors must maintain and preserve all layout marks until authorized to remove them.
- Replacement of Destroyed Marks
- If layout marks are destroyed by the contractor or through negligence, the government may replace them and deduct the cost from the contractor’s payments.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Establish base lines and benchmarks, authorize removal of layout marks, and deduct costs for replacement if necessary.
- Contractors: Accurately lay out work, provide all layout materials and labor, maintain layout marks, and bear costs for any negligent destruction of marks.
- Agencies: Oversee compliance and enforce deductions for replacement of destroyed marks.
Practical Implications
- This clause ensures construction accuracy and accountability for layout work.
- Contractors must plan for layout costs and take care to preserve layout marks.
- Negligence in maintaining layout marks can result in financial penalties, making careful site management essential.
As prescribed in 36.517 , insert the following clause in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract is contemplated and use of this clause is appropriate due to a need for accurate work layout and for siting verification during work performance:
Layout of Work (Apr 1984)
The Contractor shall lay out its work from Government established base lines and bench marks indicated on the drawings, and shall be responsible for all measurements in connection with the layout. The Contractor shall furnish, at its own expense, all stakes, templates, platforms, equipment, tools, materials, and labor required to lay out any part of the work. The Contractor shall be responsible for executing the work to the lines and grades that may be established or indicated by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall also be responsible for maintaining and preserving all stakes and other marks established by the Contracting Officer until authorized to remove them. If such marks are destroyed by the Contractor or through its negligence before their removal is authorized, the Contracting Officer may replace them and deduct the expense of the replacement from any amounts due or to become due to the Contractor.
(End of clause)