FAR 52.213-2—Invoices.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.213-2, Invoices, is a simple but important payment clause used in certain simplified acquisition and subscription-type purchases. It tells the contractor that an invoice must be submitted before the Government can make payment, and it specifies exactly what the invoice must contain: the starting and ending dates of the subscription delivery period and a statement about whether the required orders for addressees have already been placed or will be placed after payment is received. In practice, this clause is designed to support prompt, accurate payment for subscription deliveries by giving the contracting office and paying office the minimum information needed to verify what was ordered and when delivery coverage begins and ends. It also ties payment to the contractor’s commitment to place or have placed the subscription orders for the intended recipients, which helps prevent payment before performance is properly arranged. The clause is prescribed by FAR 13.302-5(b), so it is used where the simplified acquisition procedures and the nature of the purchase make a short, tailored invoice requirement appropriate. For contractors, the clause means invoice format and content matter; for contracting officers and payment personnel, it provides a clear checklist for accepting an invoice for payment.
Key Rules
Invoice Required Before Payment
The contractor must submit an invoice before the Government can pay. Payment is not authorized until a proper invoice is received.
Invoice Must State Delivery Dates
The invoice must identify the starting and ending dates of the subscription delivery period. This lets the Government confirm the period covered by the charge.
Invoice Must Address Orders
The invoice must state either that the required orders for the addressees have already been placed in effect, or that they will be placed in effect upon receipt of payment. This links payment to the subscription fulfillment process.
Payment Based on Invoice
The Government will pay based on the invoice, so the invoice is the key document supporting payment for the subscription delivery. If the invoice is incomplete or missing required statements, payment can be delayed.
Limited, Subscription-Focused Clause
This clause is tailored to subscription deliveries under simplified acquisition procedures. It is not a general-purpose invoice clause for all contract types.
Responsibilities
Contractor
Submit an invoice before requesting payment and ensure the invoice includes the subscription delivery start and end dates. The contractor must also state whether orders for the addressees have already been placed or will be placed upon receipt of payment.
Contracting Officer
Include the clause when prescribed and ensure the contract uses the correct invoice requirements for the acquisition. The contracting officer should also verify that the clause is appropriate for the purchase and that invoice requirements are clear to the contractor.
Payment Office / Finance Office
Review invoices to confirm they contain the required information before processing payment. If the invoice is missing required data, the office should reject or return it for correction rather than pay prematurely.
Agency / Ordering Activity
Use the clause only in the situations authorized by FAR 13.302-5(b) and ensure the subscription arrangement and delivery expectations are properly documented. The agency should coordinate so the invoice requirement matches how the subscription will be fulfilled.
Practical Implications
Contractors should treat this as a content-specific invoice clause, not just a billing formality; missing dates or the required order statement can delay payment.
Contracting officers should confirm the clause is used only for the intended subscription-type simplified acquisition and not inserted into unrelated buys.
Payment personnel should use the clause as a checklist: no invoice, no payment; incomplete invoice, no payment until corrected.
A common pitfall is failing to distinguish between orders already placed and orders to be placed after payment; the invoice must clearly say which applies.
Because the clause is brief, parties may overlook it, but it directly affects cash flow and performance timing, especially for subscription deliveries to multiple addressees.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 13.302-5 (b) , insert the following clause: Invoices (Apr 1984) The Contractor’s invoices must be submitted before payment can be made. The Contractor will be paid on the basis of the invoice, which must state- (a) The starting and ending dates of the subscription delivery; and (b) Either that orders have been placed in effect for the addressees required, or that the orders will be placed in effect upon receipt of payment. (End of clause)