FAR 52.247-14—Contractor Responsibility for Receipt of Shipment.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.247-14, Contractor Responsibility for Receipt of Shipment, is a transportation clause that tells the contractor what to do when goods are tendered for shipment under a transportation or transportation-related services contract. It covers the contractor’s duty to diligently count the goods, examine them for apparent condition, formally receipt for the shipment, and make a written exception when any goods are not in apparent good order. In practice, the clause is about creating a clear handoff record at the point of shipment acceptance so that shortages, damage, or other visible discrepancies are documented immediately rather than disputed later. It is intended to protect the Government’s interests, support accurate shipment accountability, and reduce claims or confusion about what was actually tendered and received. The clause is short, but it places an important operational burden on the contractor to inspect and document the shipment at the time of receipt. It also signals that the contractor’s acceptance is not automatic or passive; the contractor must actively verify the shipment and preserve evidence of any visible problems.
Key Rules
Count all tendered goods
The contractor must diligently count the goods presented for shipment. This means the contractor cannot rely on assumptions or incomplete checks when determining what was actually tendered.
Examine shipment condition
The contractor must examine the goods for apparent good order. The inspection is limited to what is visibly or otherwise readily apparent at receipt, but it must be done carefully and in good faith.
Receipt for the shipment
The contractor must formally receipt for the goods. This creates an acknowledgment that the shipment was tendered and accepted for transportation or related handling.
Write exceptions for defects
If any goods are not in apparent good order, the contractor must make an appropriate written exception. The exception must be documented at the time of receipt so the condition is preserved for later review or dispute resolution.
Applies to transportation contracts
The clause is prescribed for solicitations and contracts for transportation or transportation-related services. It is not a general supply clause; its focus is the receipt and condition of goods in the transportation context.
Responsibilities
Contractor
Diligently count and examine all goods tendered for shipment, receipt for the shipment, and document written exceptions for any goods not in apparent good order.
Contracting Officer
Include the clause when required by FAR 47.207-5(d) in solicitations and contracts for transportation or transportation-related services and ensure the contract terms reflect the required receipt-and-exception process.
Agency/Transportation Activity
Provide shipments in a manner that allows the contractor to count and inspect them at tender and rely on the contractor’s written exceptions as part of shipment accountability and dispute handling.
Practical Implications
The contractor should inspect shipments immediately at tender, because later complaints about shortages or visible damage may be harder to prove if no written exception was made.
A vague or missing exception can shift risk to the contractor by suggesting the goods were received in apparent good order.
Operational staff need a consistent process for counting, inspecting, and documenting exceptions so receipts are accurate and defensible.
The clause is especially important where shipments are large, mixed, or time-sensitive, because errors in count or condition can quickly become claims or payment disputes.
Contracting officers should verify the clause is used only when prescribed and that contractor personnel understand the documentation standard expected at receipt.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 47.207-5 (d) , insert the following clause in solicitations and contracts for transportation or for transportation-related services: Contractor Responsibility for Receipt of Shipment (Apr 1984) The Contractor shall diligently count and examine all goods tendered for shipment, receipt for them, and make appropriate written exception for any goods not in apparent good order. (End of clause)