FAR 52.213—[Reserved]

Fast Payment Procedure.

FAR 52.213-1, Fast Payment Procedure, sets out a simplified payment method for certain small purchases and other eligible transactions by allowing the Government to pay based on shipment or delivery rather than waiting for full post-delivery verification. The clause covers when title passes to the Government, who bears the risk of loss or nonconforming supplies in transit, the contractor’s obligation to replace, repair, or correct defective or missing items, and the 180-day period during which the contracting officer may direct corrective action. It also addresses invoice preparation, including the required “FAST PAY” marking, treatment of transportation charges and parcel post insurance, retention of freight bills, and the information that must appear on invoices when a receiving report is required or not required. In addition, it explains the contractor’s certification when submitting an invoice and the requirement to mark outer shipping containers “FAST PAY.” In practice, this clause speeds cash flow for contractors and reduces administrative burden for the Government, but it also shifts significant shipment-risk and documentation responsibility to the contractor, so accurate shipping, invoicing, and packaging are critical.

Invoices.

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.

Notice to Supplier.

FAR 52.213-3, Notice to Supplier, is a short clause used in simplified acquisition purchases to tell the supplier how the order works and what to do if the supplier cannot meet it exactly as written. It addresses four main subjects: when the order becomes a firm order, where invoices must be sent, what the supplier must do if it cannot perform exactly in accordance with the order, and the requirement to notify the Contracting Officer immediately with a quotation if performance cannot be accepted as ordered. In practice, the clause is meant to prevent misunderstandings in low-dollar, streamlined buys by making clear that the supplier should not simply substitute terms or proceed on assumptions. It also protects the Government by requiring prompt notice when the supplier cannot comply, so the Contracting Officer can decide whether to modify the order, obtain a revised quotation, or take another procurement action. The clause is especially important because simplified acquisitions often move quickly and may be issued without the same level of negotiation or formal contract administration used in larger procurements. It gives both sides a simple, practical communication rule: perform exactly as ordered if you can, invoice the Contracting Officer, and stop and report immediately if you cannot.

Terms and Conditions—Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than Commercial Products and Commercial Services).

FAR 52.213-4 is the core clause used in many simplified acquisitions that are not for commercial products or commercial services. It tells contractors which FAR clauses are automatically incorporated into the contract and therefore legally binding, even if they are not repeated in full in the award document. The clause covers several major topic areas: integrity and ethics restrictions, cybersecurity and supply-chain prohibitions, labor and employment protections, payment and invoicing rules, disputes and protest rights, subcontracting requirements, and administrative matters such as computer-generated forms. It also includes a second group of clauses that apply only when the stated conditions are met, such as whistleblower protections, executive compensation reporting, child labor restrictions, wage and labor standards, veteran and disability employment requirements, service contract labor standards, and trafficking in persons. In practice, this clause matters because it is the main vehicle that brings a broad set of statutory and regulatory obligations into a simplified acquisition without requiring a full commercial-item clause set. Contractors must review it carefully at award to identify which requirements apply to their specific contract, and contracting officers must ensure the right clauses are included based on the acquisition type, dollar value, place of performance, and other triggering conditions.