FAR 52.243-1 — Changes—Fixed-Price
What It Is
FAR 52.243-1 is the Changes clause for non-commercial fixed-price contracts. It authorizes the contracting officer, by written order, to make changes within the general scope of the contract — to the drawings, designs, specifications, method of shipment, place of delivery, or amount of government-furnished property. If such a change increases or decreases the contractor's cost or the time required, the contractor is entitled to an equitable adjustment to the price and schedule, but it must assert its right to the adjustment within 30 days of receiving the change order (the contracting officer may consider a later claim before final payment). Importantly, the clause requires the contractor to proceed with the changed work even while the adjustment is being negotiated.
When It Applies
- Non-commercial fixed-price supply and service contracts (different Changes clause variants apply to cost-reimbursement, T&M, and construction).
- When the contracting officer issues a written change order within the general scope of the contract.
- Note: commercial contracts use FAR 52.212-4's mutual-agreement changes mechanism instead of this unilateral clause.
Key Provisions
| Provision | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Unilateral change authority | The contracting officer may direct in-scope changes by written order without the contractor's prior agreement — a key difference from commercial contracts. |
| Equitable adjustment | If the change affects cost or time, the contractor is entitled to an adjustment to the contract price and delivery schedule. |
| 30-day assertion window | The contractor must assert its right to an adjustment within 30 days of the change order — track changes closely so you do not lose the claim. |
| Duty to proceed | The contractor must continue performing the changed work while the equitable adjustment is negotiated; it cannot stop work over the price dispute. |
What It Means for an SDVOSB
On non-commercial fixed-price work, the Changes clause is double-edged for a small business: the government can direct in-scope changes you must perform, but it also entitles you to an equitable adjustment if the change drives cost or time. The practical risk is the 30-day window — small firms that perform the changed work but never formally assert the adjustment can eat the cost. Document the change, price the impact, and assert the claim promptly. Note that scope changes formalized through a modification appear on an SF 30.
Common Pitfalls
- Performing changed work but missing the 30-day window to assert your equitable adjustment, forfeiting recovery.
- Confusing 'within the general scope' changes (covered by this clause) with out-of-scope work (which may require a new procurement, not a unilateral order).
- Stopping work over a change-order pricing dispute — the clause requires you to proceed while the adjustment is negotiated.
Run the Numbers
Frequently Asked
Can the government change my fixed-price contract without my agreement?
On a non-commercial fixed-price contract, yes — FAR 52.243-1 lets the contracting officer issue a written order making changes within the general scope of the contract, and you must proceed with the changed work. Your protection is the right to an equitable adjustment to price and schedule, which you must assert within 30 days. On a commercial contract, by contrast, FAR 52.212-4 requires changes to be made by mutual written agreement.
How long do I have to ask for more money after a change order?
FAR 52.243-1 requires the contractor to assert its right to an equitable adjustment within 30 days of receiving the written change order, though the contracting officer may act on a proposal submitted later, before final payment. The safest practice is to identify the cost and schedule impact and submit your request promptly — missing the window can cost you the recovery.
Primary Sources
Plain-English reference, not legal advice. Which clauses apply, and in which version, is set by the specific solicitation, and the FAR is periodically amended — always read the actual clause text in your solicitation and confirm its application with your contracting officer before relying on this.
Change log (1)
- LaunchedPublished the federal contract clauses reference covering the standard FAR Part 52 clauses an SDVOSB encounters in a set-aside contract — the SDVOSB set-aside clause (52.219-27), limitations on subcontracting (52.219-14), utilization of small business concerns (52.219-8), the reps-and-certs provisions (52.204-8 / 52.212-3), the commercial terms clauses (52.212-4 / 52.212-5), Changes (52.243-1), Termination for Convenience and Default (52.249-2 / 52.249-8), Prompt Payment and EFT payment (52.232-25 / 52.232-33), Service Contract Labor Standards (52.222-41), and basic cybersecurity safeguarding (52.204-21) — each with a key-provisions table, common pitfalls, an SDVOSB-specific angle, FAQPage, Legislation, Dataset, and BreadcrumbList structured data, primary-source FAR citations, and cross-links into the glossary, forms reference, contract types, regulation explainers, how-to guides, FAQ, and the limitations-on-subcontracting and price-to-win calculators.