FAR 36.523—Site visit.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 36.523 addresses when a contracting officer must include the Site Visit (Construction) solicitation provision, and it ties that requirement directly to two construction clauses: Differing Site Conditions at 52.236-2 and Site Investigations and Conditions Affecting the Work at 52.236-3. In practical terms, this section is about making sure offerors are given a fair opportunity to inspect the construction site before bidding, so they can better understand existing conditions, access issues, physical constraints, and other factors that may affect price, schedule, and performance risk. The section also recognizes that site visits may be handled in different ways, because it allows use of Alternate I when the agency will conduct an organized site visit. This matters because site visits can reduce misunderstandings, limit later disputes over site conditions, and support more accurate and competitive proposals. For contracting officers, it is a solicitation-preparation requirement; for contractors, it is a signal to investigate the site carefully before submitting an offer, especially where site conditions may affect performance or claims.
Key Rules
Include site visit provision
The contracting officer must insert a provision substantially the same as 52.236-27, Site Visit (Construction), in applicable solicitations. This is not optional when the solicitation includes the specified construction clauses.
Triggered by two clauses
The requirement applies to solicitations that include both 52.236-2, Differing Site Conditions, and 52.236-3, Site Investigations and Conditions Affecting the Work. The site visit provision is therefore linked to solicitations where site conditions are a material part of the risk allocation.
Alternate I for organized visits
Alternate I may be used when the agency will conduct an organized site visit. This gives the contracting officer flexibility to structure the visit in a controlled, agency-managed way rather than leaving attendance entirely informal.
Construction solicitation focus
This section is limited to construction solicitations. It is intended to support pre-bid understanding of the physical site and the conditions that may affect construction work, pricing, and performance.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Determine whether the solicitation includes 52.236-2 and 52.236-3, and if so, insert a provision substantially the same as 52.236-27. If the agency will conduct a structured site visit, use Alternate I as appropriate and ensure the solicitation clearly communicates the visit arrangement.
Agency
Provide the site visit framework when an organized visit will be conducted, including logistics, access, and any instructions needed to allow offerors to inspect the site in a fair and orderly manner.
Contractor/Offeror
Use the site visit opportunity to inspect the site and assess conditions that may affect the work, pricing, and schedule. Offerors should not assume later relief for conditions that could have been identified through a reasonable site visit and investigation.
Practical Implications
Contracting officers should check the solicitation package carefully: if 52.236-2 and 52.236-3 are included, the site visit provision must also be included.
An organized site visit can improve consistency and reduce confusion, but only if the solicitation clearly states when, where, and how the visit will occur.
Contractors should treat the site visit as a risk-management step, not a formality; failure to inspect can lead to underpricing, schedule problems, or disputes over conditions that were visible or discoverable.
This section helps support the differing site conditions framework by encouraging pre-bid investigation, which can reduce later claims based on conditions that were reasonably observable.
A common pitfall is omitting the site visit provision when the related clauses are present, or using the wrong alternate for the way the visit will be conducted.
Official Regulatory Text
The contracting officer shall insert a provision substantially the same as the provision at 52.236-27 , Site Visit (Construction), in solicitations which include the clauses at 52.236-2 , Differing Site Conditions, and 52.236-3 , Site Investigations and Conditions Affecting the Work. AlternateI may be used when an organized site visit will be conducted.