FAR 52.236-12—Cleaning Up.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.236-12, Cleaning Up, is a construction-site housekeeping clause that sets the contractor’s basic obligation to keep the work area orderly throughout performance and to leave the site clean at completion. It covers three related topics: maintaining the work area and storage areas free of waste accumulations, removing non-Government rubbish/tools/scaffolding/equipment/materials before finishing the work, and delivering the site in a clean, neat, and orderly condition acceptable to the Contracting Officer. In practice, the clause gives the Government a clear contractual basis to require routine debris control during performance and final cleanup at closeout. It is intended to reduce safety hazards, prevent interference with other work, protect Government property, and avoid disputes over whether cleanup is included in the contract price. Because the standard is tied to the Contracting Officer’s satisfaction, contractors should treat cleanup as an enforceable performance requirement, not an optional courtesy or a task limited to final demobilization.
Key Rules
Keep areas free of waste
The contractor must at all times keep the work area, including storage areas, free from accumulations of waste materials. This is an ongoing duty during performance, not just a final cleanup requirement.
Remove contractor property
Before completing the work, the contractor must remove from the work and premises any rubbish, tools, scaffolding, equipment, and materials that are not Government property. The clause requires the contractor to clear out its own items and debris before completion.
Leave site in good condition
Upon completion, the contractor must leave the work area clean, neat, and orderly. The required condition is measured by what is satisfactory to the Contracting Officer, giving the Government discretion to determine whether cleanup is adequate.
Applies to work and premises
The cleanup obligation is not limited to the immediate task location; it also includes storage areas and the broader premises affected by the work. Contractors should plan for housekeeping across all areas they occupy or use.
Government acceptance matters
Final cleanup is part of contract performance and may affect whether the work is considered complete. If the site is not left in acceptable condition, the Contracting Officer may require corrective cleanup before accepting the work.
Responsibilities
Contractor
Maintain continuous housekeeping in the work area and storage areas, control waste accumulation, remove all non-Government rubbish and equipment before completion, and deliver the site in a clean, neat, and orderly condition acceptable to the Contracting Officer.
Contracting Officer
Inspect the site as needed, determine whether the cleanup condition is satisfactory, and require corrective action if the contractor has not met the clause’s cleanup standard.
Government
Provide the contractor access to the work and premises needed to perform the cleanup and, where applicable, identify any Government property that should remain on site so the contractor does not remove it.
Practical Implications
Contractors should budget labor and time for ongoing debris removal, not just end-of-job cleanup, because the clause requires housekeeping throughout performance.
A common pitfall is leaving behind small items such as fasteners, packaging, surplus materials, or rented equipment; the clause requires removal of all non-Government rubbish, tools, scaffolding, equipment, and materials.
Because the standard is tied to the Contracting Officer’s satisfaction, disputes often arise when the contractor believes the site is “done” but the Government sees remaining clutter or unsafe conditions.
The clause helps support safety and coordination on active sites, so poor housekeeping can create schedule delays, inspection failures, or demands for corrective work before acceptance.
Contractors should verify which items are Government property before demobilizing, since removing Government-owned materials or equipment can create property and contract administration issues.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 36.512 , insert the following clause: Cleaning Up (Apr 1984) The Contractor shall at all times keep the work area, including storage areas, free from accumulations of waste materials. Before completing the work, the Contractor shall remove from the work and premises any rubbish, tools, scaffolding, equipment, and materials that are not the property of the Government. Upon completing the work, the Contractor shall leave the work area in a clean, neat, and orderly condition satisfactory to the Contracting Officer. (End of clause)