FAR 46.313—Contracts for dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 46.313 is a very short but important prescription rule for contracts involving dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements. It requires the contracting officer to include the clause at 52.246-13, Inspection—Dismantling, Demolition, or Removal of Improvements, in solicitations and contracts when the work involves taking down, removing, or otherwise disposing of improvements to real property. In practice, this section ensures the Government has an inspection framework tailored to demolition-type work, where the condition of the structure, the sequence of removal, safety, and the final result can all affect contract performance and liability. The rule matters because demolition and removal contracts often involve site hazards, salvage issues, property damage risk, and disputes over whether the contractor left the site in the required condition. By mandating the clause, FAR 46.313 makes inspection rights and expectations explicit from the start, reducing ambiguity for both the Government and the contractor.
Key Rules
Insert required inspection clause
The contracting officer must include FAR 52.246-13, Inspection—Dismantling, Demolition, or Removal of Improvements, in solicitations and contracts covered by this section. This is a mandatory prescription, not a discretionary one, when the contract is for dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements.
Applies to improvement-removal work
The rule applies specifically to contracts for dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements. In practice, this means work involving structures or other improvements to real property, not ordinary supply or service contracts unrelated to site removal.
Inspection rights are built in
The required clause gives the Government an inspection mechanism suited to demolition and removal work. This helps the Government verify compliance with contract requirements, including the condition of the worksite and the manner in which the improvements are taken down or removed.
Supports risk control and acceptance
Demolition and removal work can create safety, environmental, and property-damage risks, so the clause helps define how the Government will inspect and evaluate performance before acceptance. This reduces disputes over whether the contractor completed the work properly and left the site in the required condition.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Must insert FAR 52.246-13 in solicitations and contracts when the procurement is for dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements. The contracting officer should ensure the clause is included consistently so the Government’s inspection rights are preserved.
Agency
Must support acquisition planning and contract administration for demolition or removal work so the required inspection clause is used in covered procurements. The agency should also ensure personnel understand the inspection and acceptance process for this type of work.
Contractor
Must perform the dismantling, demolition, or removal work subject to the inspection requirements in the clause. The contractor should expect Government inspection and should plan work methods, safety controls, and site cleanup to meet contract requirements.
Practical Implications
This section is a clause-prescription rule, so the main day-to-day task is simple: make sure 52.246-13 is included whenever the contract covers demolition or removal of improvements.
A common pitfall is treating demolition work like a generic construction or service contract and overlooking the specific inspection clause required here.
Contractors should pay close attention to site condition, debris removal, salvage handling, and final cleanup, because inspection and acceptance will likely focus on those issues.
Contracting officers should confirm the scope really is dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements, since the clause is mandatory only for that type of work.
Because these projects can involve safety and property-risk issues, clear inspection language helps prevent disputes about whether the Government can require corrections before acceptance.
Official Regulatory Text
The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.246-13 , Inspection-Dismantling, Demolition, or Removal of Improvements, in solicitations and contracts for dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements.