FAR 47.208-2—Contract clause.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 47.208-2 tells contracting officers when to include the Report of Shipment (REPSHIP) clause at 52.247-68 in solicitations and contracts. The section is narrowly focused on one implementation requirement: inserting the clause when advance notice of shipment is needed for safety or security reasons, or when the government expects carload or truckload shipments to Department of Defense installations or, when required, to civilian agency facilities. In practice, this means the clause is a logistics and transportation control tool, not a general shipping provision, and it is used to ensure the government receives timely shipment information before large or sensitive deliveries arrive. The rule matters because advance notice can support installation access control, receiving readiness, security screening, traffic management, and safe handling of large shipments. For contractors, it means shipment planning may need to include specific reporting steps before goods move. For contracting officers, it means deciding whether the shipment circumstances trigger the clause and ensuring it is included in the solicitation and resulting contract whenever the rule applies.
Key Rules
Insert REPSHIP When Required
The contracting officer must include clause 52.247-68, Report of Shipment (REPSHIP), in both solicitations and contracts when the stated conditions are met. This is a mandatory insertion rule, not a discretionary one, once the triggering circumstances exist.
Safety Or Security Triggers
Advance shipment notice is required when it is needed for safety or security reasons. This covers situations where the government needs advance warning to protect personnel, property, facilities, or operations.
DoD Carload Or Truckload Shipments
The clause must be used for carload or truckload shipments to Department of Defense installations. The rule recognizes that larger shipments often require advance coordination for access, unloading, staging, and receiving.
Civilian Agency Facilities When Required
The clause also applies to carload or truckload shipments to civilian agency facilities when advance notice is required. The need for the clause depends on the facility’s operational or security needs, not just the type of agency.
Applies In Solicitations And Contracts
The clause must be inserted at the solicitation stage and carried into the contract. This ensures offerors know the reporting requirement before award and that the obligation is enforceable after award.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Determine whether advance shipment notice is needed for safety or security reasons, or whether the shipment will be a carload or truckload to a DoD installation or required civilian facility. If so, insert clause 52.247-68 in the solicitation and contract.
Contractor
If the clause is included, provide the required report of shipment in the manner and timing specified by the clause and coordinate shipments so the government receives advance notice before delivery.
Receiving Installation or Facility
Identify operational, safety, or security needs that make advance shipment notice necessary and communicate those needs so the contracting officer can include the clause when appropriate.
Agency Transportation/Logistics Personnel
Support the contracting officer by identifying shipment types and destinations that require advance notice and by using the reported information to prepare for receipt, access control, and unloading.
Practical Implications
This section is a trigger rule: if the shipment conditions are met, the clause must be included, so contracting officers should screen transportation requirements early in acquisition planning.
Contractors should watch for REPSHIP in the solicitation because it creates a pre-shipment reporting obligation that can affect shipping schedules and coordination with carriers.
A common pitfall is assuming the clause applies only to DoD shipments; it can also apply to civilian agency facilities when advance notice is required.
Another risk is failing to identify whether a shipment is carload or truckload, which can lead to missing the clause and creating receiving or security problems later.
The practical purpose is to prevent surprise deliveries and support safe, secure, and orderly receipt of large or sensitive shipments.
Official Regulatory Text
The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.247-68 , Report of Shipment (REPSHIP), in solicitations and contracts when advance notice of shipment is required for safety or security reasons, or where carload or truckload shipments will be made to DoD installations or, as required, to civilian agency facilities.