The White House has directed Agency heads to “terminate or modify . . . covered contracts.” With some exceptions, there are numerous potential contracts on the chopping block. What should contractors do?

Upon receipt of a unilateral modification, assess whether the cost or time will increase in unchanged areas. For example, deductive changes for certain work could increase costs for other work that must still be performed. If costs were increased because of deductive changes, then carefully consider submitting a request for equitable adjustment.
Upon receipt of a notice of complete termination for convenience, promptly stop incurring further costs and, within one year of the termination, present a reasonable and well-supported termination settlement proposal to the Government under FAR 52.249-2(e). Recoverable costs include:

1. Costs actually incurred;
2. Profit on the work actually done; and
3. Costs of preparing a termination settlement proposal.

Upon receipt of a notice of partial termination for convenience, promptly stop incurring costs related to the terminated portion of the work and present a request for equitable adjustment within 90 days of the notice under FAR 52.249-2(l).

HEADER PHOTO: Termination by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

Published On: March 6, 2025

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Forum Selection Can Be a Home-Court Advantage

March 1, 2018|

I promise that any disputes between us will be argued at your house.  Time passes and a dispute begins to brew.  Now, I want to argue at my house, not at yours.  You pay costs to argue at my house that you wouldn’t have incurred had I done as agreed.  Should I have to reimburse your costs?

Linking Obligations

January 24, 2018|

If you want to bind the subcontractor to the prime in every way the same as the prime is bound to the owner, then the incorporation clause of the subcontract should be: . . .

Termination of Government Contracts for Convenience (T4C)

January 16, 2018|

Imagine you’re a Government Contractor under a firm, fixed-price contract and you’ve done nothing wrong.  Nevertheless, the Government has decided to unilaterally end its contract with you.  Yes, the Government can do this...

Government Contractors: Build a Snowman in August

January 8, 2018|

As a Government Contractor, when have you agreed to perform a certain way, but later realized that another way is better for everybody?  When the Government agrees, expressly or impliedly, to the alternative performance, it waives a credit for the unperformed work.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Jonathan J. Straw
Best Lawyers® - Jonathan Straw | 2026

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!