FAR 52.236-17—Layout of Work.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.236-17, Layout of Work, is a construction clause that allocates responsibility for establishing and preserving the physical layout of the work on a fixed-price project. It addresses when the clause is used, namely in solicitations and contracts for fixed-price construction when accurate layout and siting verification are important during performance. The clause explains that the contractor must lay out the work from Government-established baselines and benchmarks shown on the drawings, perform all measurements needed for layout, and provide at its own expense the stakes, templates, platforms, equipment, tools, materials, and labor needed to do the layout. It also requires the contractor to build to the lines and grades established or indicated by the Contracting Officer and to protect Government-set stakes and marks until authorized removal. Finally, it gives the Government a remedy if the contractor destroys those marks through its own actions or negligence: the Contracting Officer may replace them and deduct the cost from amounts due or to become due. In practice, this clause is about preventing disputes over field layout, ensuring the contractor bears the cost and risk of ordinary layout work, and protecting the Government’s control points so the project is built in the correct location and elevation.
Key Rules
Applies to fixed-price construction
This clause is prescribed for solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract is contemplated and the contracting officer determines that accurate work layout and siting verification are needed. It is not a general-purpose clause for all construction contracts; its use depends on the nature of the project and the need for precise field control.
Contractor performs the layout
The contractor must lay out the work from Government-established baselines and benchmarks shown on the drawings and is responsible for all measurements connected with that layout. This places the field measurement and staking burden on the contractor rather than the Government.
Contractor supplies layout resources
The contractor must furnish, at its own expense, all stakes, templates, platforms, equipment, tools, materials, and labor needed to lay out any part of the work. The Government does not pay separately for these ordinary layout support items unless the contract says otherwise.
Work must follow established lines and grades
The contractor is responsible for executing the work to the lines and grades established or indicated by the contracting officer. If the Government provides or indicates control points, the contractor must build accordingly and cannot substitute its own layout standards.
Protect Government marks
The contractor must maintain and preserve all stakes and other marks established by the contracting officer until authorized to remove them. This duty continues throughout the period those marks are needed for performance and verification.
Government may recover replacement costs
If the contractor destroys Government marks, or they are destroyed through the contractor’s negligence before authorized removal, the contracting officer may replace them and deduct the replacement expense from amounts due or to become due. This gives the Government a direct cost-recovery remedy for avoidable damage.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Establish or indicate the baselines, benchmarks, lines, and grades used for layout; determine whether the clause is appropriate for the acquisition; authorize when stakes and other marks may be removed; and, if the contractor destroys marks through its own actions or negligence, arrange replacement and deduct the cost from contract payments as allowed by the clause.
Contractor
Lay out the work from Government-established control points; perform and verify all measurements needed for layout; provide all layout-related stakes, templates, platforms, equipment, tools, materials, and labor at its own expense; construct the work to the required lines and grades; and protect Government stakes and marks until authorized removal.
Government/Agency
Provide accurate control information on the drawings or through the contracting officer’s directions and maintain the integrity of the baseline and benchmark system used for the project. The agency also benefits from and may enforce the cost-recovery remedy when contractor-caused damage occurs.
Practical Implications
Contractors should treat layout as a core performance responsibility, not a reimbursable extra, and should price the cost of staking, surveying support, and preservation of control points into the bid.
Field crews need to protect benchmarks, stakes, and other control marks carefully; accidental disturbance can become a direct deduction from contract payments if the Government has to replace them.
If the drawings or site conditions appear inconsistent with the Government’s control points, the contractor should raise the issue promptly before proceeding, because the clause ties performance to Government-established lines and grades.
Contracting officers should ensure the drawings and site control information are clear and usable, since inaccurate or ambiguous baselines can lead to rework, disputes, and schedule impacts.
This clause is especially important on projects where small errors in location or elevation can cause major downstream problems, such as utilities, foundations, paving, drainage, or structural alignment.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 36.517 , insert the following clause in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract is contemplated and use of this clause is appropriate due to a need for accurate work layout and for siting verification during work performance: Layout of Work (Apr 1984) The Contractor shall lay out its work from Government established base lines and bench marks indicated on the drawings, and shall be responsible for all measurements in connection with the layout. The Contractor shall furnish, at its own expense, all stakes, templates, platforms, equipment, tools, materials, and labor required to lay out any part of the work. The Contractor shall be responsible for executing the work to the lines and grades that may be established or indicated by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall also be responsible for maintaining and preserving all stakes and other marks established by the Contracting Officer until authorized to remove them. If such marks are destroyed by the Contractor or through its negligence before their removal is authorized, the Contracting Officer may replace them and deduct the expense of the replacement from any amounts due or to become due to the Contractor. (End of clause)