FAR 52.236-10—Operations and Storage Areas.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.236-10, Operations and Storage Areas, governs how a contractor may use Government premises during construction or other on-site work. It addresses four main subjects: where operations and storage may occur, the contractor’s duty to protect the Government from liability arising from the contractor’s performance, the approval and ownership/removal rules for temporary buildings and utilities, and the use of roadways plus protection and repair of curbs, sidewalks, and roads. In practice, the clause gives the Contracting Officer control over site layout and site impacts so the Government can manage safety, security, access, and property protection. It also places the cost and risk of temporary facilities and site damage on the contractor unless the Contracting Officer expressly agrees otherwise. For contractors, this means site use is not automatic: every storage area, temporary structure, and roadway decision must be coordinated with and, where required, approved by the Contracting Officer. For contracting officers, the clause provides a clear basis to direct where work may occur and to require restoration or reimbursement for damage caused by the contractor.
Key Rules
Operations limited to approved areas
The contractor must confine all operations, including storage of materials, to Government-premises areas authorized or approved by the Contracting Officer. This means the contractor cannot expand work or staging into other parts of the site without permission.
Government held harmless
The contractor must hold and save the Government, its officers, and agents free and harmless from liability of any nature caused by the contractor’s performance. In practical terms, the contractor bears responsibility for claims or losses arising from its work, subject to applicable law and the contract terms.
Temporary buildings need approval
Temporary buildings and utilities, such as storage sheds, shops, and offices, may be erected only with the Contracting Officer’s approval. They must be built at the contractor’s expense using the contractor’s labor and materials, not at Government cost.
Contractor owns and removes temporary facilities
Temporary buildings and utilities remain the contractor’s property unless the Contracting Officer gives written consent to abandon them. If not abandoned in writing, the contractor must remove them at its own expense when the work is complete.
Roadway use is controlled
The contractor must use established roadways or temporary roadways only as authorized by the Contracting Officer and under the Contracting Officer’s regulations. This gives the Government control over traffic patterns, access routes, and site protection.
Vehicle loading must comply
When transporting materials for the work, vehicles may not be loaded beyond the manufacturer’s recommended capacity or any applicable Federal, State, or local legal limit. The contractor must manage hauling practices to avoid unsafe overloading.
Protect and repair site surfaces
If curbs or sidewalks must be crossed, the contractor must protect them from damage. Any damaged curbs, sidewalks, or roads must be repaired or the contractor must pay for the repair.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Authorize or approve the areas where operations and storage may occur; approve any temporary buildings or utilities before they are erected; set regulations for roadway use; authorize temporary roadways when needed; and decide in writing whether temporary buildings or utilities may be abandoned instead of removed.
Contractor
Keep all operations and storage within approved areas; bear liability arising from its performance and protect the Government from related claims; obtain approval before erecting temporary buildings or utilities; build and later remove those facilities at its own expense unless written abandonment is granted; use only approved roadways; comply with vehicle loading limits; protect curbs and sidewalks when crossing them; and repair or pay for damage to curbs, sidewalks, and roads.
Government
Through its officers and agents, rely on the contractor’s hold-harmless obligation for liabilities caused by the contractor’s performance and exercise site-control authority through the Contracting Officer.
Practical Implications
This clause is a site-control tool: contractors should not assume they can stage materials, park equipment, or place trailers anywhere on the installation without approval.
Temporary facilities can become a cost and schedule issue if approval is delayed or if the contractor fails to plan for removal, restoration, or written abandonment.
Road damage and overloading are common compliance problems; contractors should monitor haul routes, axle/weight limits, and crossing protection to avoid repair costs and disputes.
The hold-harmless language makes insurance, safety controls, and subcontractor oversight especially important because liability can arise from on-site performance.
Contracting officers should document approvals and roadway rules clearly, because unclear site instructions can lead to unauthorized use, damage claims, and cleanup disagreements.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 36.510 , insert the following clause: Operations and Storage Areas (Apr 1984) (a) The Contractor shall confine all operations (including storage of materials) on Government premises to areas authorized or approved by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall hold and save the Government, its officers and agents, free and harmless from liability of any nature occasioned by the Contractor’s performance. (b) Temporary buildings ( e.g., storage sheds, shops, offices) and utilities may be erected by the Contractor only with the approval of the Contracting Officer and shall be built with labor and materials furnished by the Contractor without expense to the Government. The temporary buildings and utilities shall remain the property of the Contractor and shall be removed by the Contractor at its expense upon completion of the work. With the written consent of the Contracting Officer, the buildings and utilities may be abandoned and need not be removed. (c) The Contractor shall, under regulations prescribed by the Contracting Officer, use only established roadways, or use temporary roadways constructed by the Contractor when and as authorized by the Contracting Officer. When materials are transported in prosecuting the work, vehicles shall not be loaded beyond the loading capacity recommended by the manufacturer of the vehicle or prescribed by any Federal, State, or local law or regulation. When it is necessary to cross curbs or sidewalks, the Contractor shall protect them from damage. The Contractor shall repair or pay for the repair of any damaged curbs, sidewalks, or roads. (End of clause)