FAR 52.242-15—Stop-Work Order.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.242-15, Stop-Work Order, gives the Contracting Officer a formal tool to pause contract performance for a limited time while the Government decides whether to resume the work or end it. This clause covers the authority to issue a written stop-work order, the contractor’s immediate duty to comply and minimize costs, the 90-day stop-work period and any agreed extension, the Government’s obligation to either cancel the order or terminate the affected work, and the contractor’s right to resume work when the stoppage ends. It also addresses equitable adjustments to the delivery schedule, contract price, estimated cost, fee, and other affected terms when the stoppage increases time or cost, as well as the treatment of reasonable stop-work-related costs if the work is later terminated for convenience or default. In practice, the clause is a risk-management and preservation mechanism: it lets the Government halt work quickly without immediately deciding the final disposition of the effort, while protecting the contractor’s right to recover certain impacts if the stop-work order causes additional cost or delay. The alternate version for cost-reimbursement contracts changes the termination reference and broadens the adjustment language to fit that contract type. Contractors and contracting officers should treat the clause as a tightly managed process with strict notice, timing, documentation, and settlement requirements.
Key Rules
Written order required
The Contracting Officer may stop all or part of the work only by a written order specifically identified as a stop-work order under this clause. The order must clearly tell the contractor what work is stopped and when the stoppage begins.
Immediate compliance and mitigation
Once the contractor receives the order, it must immediately stop the covered work and take all reasonable steps to minimize costs allocable to the stopped work. This includes controlling labor, subcontractor activity, materials, and other avoidable charges.
Limited stop-work period
The stop-work order lasts for 90 days after delivery unless the parties agree to extend it for a further period. The clause may be tailored to a shorter period if prescribed, but the default framework is a time-limited pause rather than an indefinite suspension.
Government must decide next step
Within the 90-day period, or any agreed extension, the Contracting Officer must either cancel the stop-work order or terminate the affected work under the applicable termination clause. The Government cannot simply leave the work in limbo beyond the authorized period without further agreement.
Duty to resume work
If the stop-work order is canceled or expires, the contractor must resume performance. The restart obligation is automatic once the stoppage ends, subject to any written modification needed to reflect changed schedule or price terms.
Equitable adjustment available
If the stop-work order increases the time required for performance or the contractor’s properly allocable costs, the Contracting Officer must make an equitable adjustment to the delivery schedule or contract price, or both. Under the cost-reimbursement alternate, the adjustment may also affect estimated cost, fee, and other impacted contract terms.
Timely assertion of rights
The contractor must assert its right to an adjustment within 30 days after the stoppage ends. The Contracting Officer may still consider a later claim before final payment if the facts justify doing so, but the 30-day deadline is the normal rule.
Termination cost treatment
If the stop-work order is not canceled and the work is later terminated for convenience, reasonable stop-work-related costs are included in the termination settlement. If the work is terminated for default, reasonable stop-work-related costs may still be allowed by equitable adjustment or otherwise.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Issue a clear written stop-work order, identify it under the clause, and specify the affected work. Monitor the 90-day period or any agreed extension, then either cancel the order or terminate the work under the proper termination clause. If the stoppage causes increased time or properly allocable cost, negotiate and document an equitable adjustment, and ensure any termination settlement or default action accounts for reasonable stop-work-related costs as required.
Contractor
Immediately comply with the stop-work order, halt the covered work, and take reasonable steps to minimize costs during the stoppage. Track and document the impact of the stop-work order, assert any request for equitable adjustment within 30 days after the stoppage ends, resume work when the order is canceled or expires, and preserve evidence supporting any later settlement or claim.
Agency
Use the stop-work authority only when a temporary pause is needed and ensure the contracting action is properly managed within the clause’s time limits. Support the Contracting Officer in deciding whether to cancel the order or proceed to termination, and ensure funding, program, and legal considerations are coordinated before work restarts or ends.
Subcontractors
Follow the prime contractor’s direction once the prime receives a stop-work order and stop affected subcontracted work as directed. Preserve records of stoppage-related costs and impacts so the prime can evaluate and pass through any allowable adjustment or settlement claim.
Practical Implications
This clause is often used when the Government needs time to resolve funding, program, technical, or policy issues without immediately terminating the contract. Contractors should treat the order as effective immediately and not wait for a follow-up modification before stopping the covered work.
The biggest contractor risk is failing to document costs and schedule impacts during the stoppage. Without contemporaneous records, it becomes much harder to prove an equitable adjustment or termination settlement amount later.
The 30-day assertion period is a common trap. Even though the contracting officer may accept a later submission before final payment, contractors should submit their adjustment request promptly and in writing to avoid waiver or dispute.
Contracting officers should avoid letting a stop-work order drift past the authorized period without a clear cancellation, extension by agreement, or termination action. If the Government wants the pause to continue, it should be documented properly rather than assumed.
For cost-reimbursement contracts, the alternate clause matters because the adjustment can reach estimated cost and fee, not just schedule or price. Using the wrong clause language can create avoidable disputes over the scope of the adjustment and the proper termination reference.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 42.1305 (b) , insert the following clause. The "90-day" period stated in the clause may be reduced to less than 90 days. Stop-Work Order (Aug 1989) (a) The Contracting Officer may, at any time, by written order to the Contractor, require the Contractor to stop all, or any part, of the work called for by this contract for a period of 90 days after the order is delivered to the Contractor, and for any further period to which the parties may agree. The order shall be specifically identified as a stop-work order issued under this clause. Upon receipt of the order, the Contractor shall immediately comply with its terms and take all reasonable steps to minimize the incurrence of costs allocable to the work covered by the order during the period of work stoppage. Within a period of 90 days after a stop-work is delivered to the Contractor, or within any extension of that period to which the parties shall have agreed, the Contracting Officer shall either- (1) Cancel the stop-work order; or (2) Terminate the work covered by the order as provided in the Default, or the Termination for Convenience of the Government, clause of this contract. (b) If a stop-work order issued under this clause is canceled or the period of the order or any extension thereof expires, the Contractor shall resume work. The Contracting Officer shall make an equitable adjustment in the delivery schedule or contract price, or both, and the contract shall be modified, in writing, accordingly, if- (1) The stop-work order results in an increase in the time required for, or in the Contractor’s cost properly allocable to, the performance of any part of this contract; and (2) The Contractor asserts its right to the adjustment within 30 days after the end of the period of work stoppage; provided, that, if the Contracting Officer decides the facts justify the action, the Contracting Officer may receive and act upon the claim submitted at any time before final payment under this contract. (c) If a stop-work order is not canceled and the work covered by the order is terminated for the convenience of the Government, the Contracting Officer shall allow reasonable costs resulting from the stop-work order in arriving at the termination settlement. (d) If a stop-work order is not canceled and the work covered by the order is terminated for default, the Contracting Officer shall allow, by equitable adjustment or otherwise, reasonable costs resulting from the stop-work order. (End of clause) Alternate I (Apr 1984) . If this clause is inserted in a cost-reimbursement contract, substitute in paragraph (a)(2) the words "the Termination clause of this contract" for the words "the Default, or the Termination for Convenience of the Government clause of this contract." In paragraph (b) substitute the words "an equitable adjustment in the delivery schedule, the estimated cost, the fee, or a combination thereof, and in any other terms of the contract that may be affected" for the words "an equitable adjustment in the delivery schedule or contract price, or both."