52.247-5 Familiarization with Conditions
Source: FAR 52.247-5 on acquisition.gov
Contractors must thoroughly investigate and understand all conditions affecting transportation services before bidding, as they remain fully responsible for performance and cost estimates regardless of prior knowledge.
Overview
FAR 52.247-5, "Familiarization with Conditions," requires offerors bidding on transportation or transportation-related service contracts to thoroughly investigate and understand all conditions and potential difficulties associated with contract performance. This includes reviewing all available information about the work environment, safety precautions, and any challenges that may arise. The clause makes it clear that failure to become familiar with these conditions does not relieve the contractor from responsibility for estimating costs or performing the required services. Contractors are expected to assume full responsibility for their estimates and performance, regardless of any lack of investigation or knowledge about the work conditions.
Key Rules
- Familiarization Requirement
- Offerors must review all available information about the work site, conditions, and potential difficulties before bidding.
- Responsibility for Estimates and Performance
- Contractors cannot claim relief from responsibility for cost estimates or performance due to lack of investigation or knowledge about the conditions.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must include this clause in applicable solicitations and contracts.
- Contractors: Must proactively investigate and understand all relevant conditions and challenges before submitting an offer.
- Agencies: Ensure offerors have access to necessary information about the work environment and conditions.
Practical Implications
- This clause exists to prevent disputes over unforeseen conditions and to ensure contractors are fully accountable for their bids and performance.
- Contractors must conduct due diligence before bidding, as claims of ignorance about site conditions will not be accepted as excuses for poor performance or cost overruns.
- Common pitfalls include inadequate site visits, failure to review safety requirements, or underestimating logistical challenges.
As prescribed in 47.207-1(d), insert the following clause in solicitations and contracts for transportation or for transportation-related services to ensure that offerors become familiar with conditions under which and where the services will be performed:
Familiarization with Conditions (Apr 1984)
The offeror shall become familiar with all available information regarding difficulties that may be encountered and the conditions, including safety precautions, under which the work must be accomplished under the contract. The offeror shall not be relieved from assuming all responsibility for properly estimating the difficulties and the cost of performing the services required in this contract because the offeror failed to investigate the conditions or to become acquainted with all information concerning the services to be performed.
(End of clause)