FAR 36.609-3—Work oversight in architect-engineer contracts.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 36.609-3 is a very short but important prescription rule for architect-engineer (A-E) contracting. It requires the contracting officer to include the clause at 52.236-24, Work Oversight in Architect-Engineer Contracts, in every A-E contract. In practice, this section is about ensuring the government has a standard contractual mechanism to control, direct, and monitor A-E work through the clause rather than relying on ad hoc instructions. It ties directly to the broader A-E procurement framework in FAR Part 36, where professional services are procured based on qualifications and the government must still maintain appropriate oversight of performance. The section does not itself describe the clause’s detailed content, but it makes clear that the clause is mandatory and non-optional for all A-E contracts. For contracting officers, this means the clause must be included in the solicitation/contract package whenever the contract is an architect-engineer contract. For contractors, it means work oversight requirements are part of the bargain from the start and should be reviewed carefully because they affect how the government will supervise, review, and accept A-E services.
Key Rules
Mandatory clause inclusion
The contracting officer must insert FAR 52.236-24, Work Oversight in Architect-Engineer Contracts, in all architect-engineer contracts. This is a mandatory prescription, not a discretionary one.
Applies to all A-E contracts
The requirement applies broadly to architect-engineer contracts, without carving out exceptions in this section. If the procurement is an A-E contract, the clause must be included.
Oversight is contractual
The section ensures work oversight is handled through a standard contract clause. That gives the government a defined basis for monitoring and directing A-E performance within the limits of the contract.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Must include clause 52.236-24, Work Oversight in Architect-Engineer Contracts, in every architect-engineer contract. The contracting officer must ensure the clause is present in the final contract and not omitted during drafting or award.
Architect-Engineer Contractor
Must perform with the understanding that the contract will contain the work oversight clause and comply with the oversight, review, and coordination requirements established by that clause and the contract terms.
Agency
Must support use of the required clause in A-E contracting actions and ensure internal acquisition procedures do not conflict with the mandatory FAR prescription.
Practical Implications
Contracting officers should treat this as a required clause check item for every A-E award; omission is a compliance error, not a judgment call.
Contractors should review the clause early because it affects how design work is reviewed, coordinated, and managed during performance.
Because the section is a prescription rule, the main risk is administrative omission during solicitation or award preparation rather than interpretation of complex substantive standards.
A-E teams should align project management and submittal processes with the oversight clause so government review cycles do not disrupt schedule or deliverables.
If a contract is misclassified and the clause is omitted, the agency may face contract administration and compliance issues that should be corrected promptly.
Official Regulatory Text
The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.236-24 , Work Oversight in Architect-Engineer Contracts, in all architect-engineer contracts.