FAR 52.247-68—Report of Shipment (REPSHIP).
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.247-68, Report of Shipment (REPSHIP), requires contractors to give advance shipment notice to the Government’s consignee transportation officer for certain sensitive or high-risk shipments and for large domestic freight movements. The clause defines “domestic destination” and then sets out when notice is mandatory, including shipments of classified material, protected sensitive and protected controlled material, certain explosives, poisons, and radioactive materials, as well as truckload or carload shipments of 20,000 pounds or more, or smaller shipments that fill the visible capacity of a rail car or motor vehicle. It also specifies how the notice must be sent—by rapid means so it arrives at least 24 hours before the shipment reaches the destination—and what information must be included, such as the bill of lading or other shipping document, carrier identity, vehicle identification, contract number, estimated time of arrival, and whether the shipment was prepaid by the contractor. In practice, the clause is a transportation-control and receiving-support requirement: it helps the Government track incoming freight, prepare for receipt, and manage security, safety, and logistics risks. It is especially important for defense and other sensitive supply chains where advance visibility into shipment arrival is necessary.
Key Rules
Domestic destination definition
The clause limits its notice requirement to shipments going to a domestic destination, meaning the contiguous United States, or, for shipments originating in Alaska or Hawaii, destinations within the same state. This definition matters because it determines when the REPSHIP notice requirement applies.
Notice required for sensitive cargo
A prepaid shipment notice must be sent for all shipments of classified material, protected sensitive and protected controlled material, certain explosives and poisons, and radioactive materials requiring a III bar label. These categories trigger notice regardless of shipment size because of security and safety concerns.
Notice required for large freight
A notice is also required when a truckload or carload shipment weighs 20,000 pounds or more, or when a smaller shipment fills the full visible capacity of a rail car or motor vehicle, if it is delivered to any carrier for transportation to a domestic destination other than a port for export. This rule is aimed at significant domestic freight movements that the Government needs to track.
Advance timing requirement
The notice must be transmitted by rapid means so it is received by the consignee transportation officer at least 24 hours before the shipment arrives. The clause is not satisfied by ordinary mailing or late notice that does not meet the 24-hour lead time.
Required shipping document content
The contractor must send the receiving transportation officer the bill of lading or another document clearly marked as a REPSHIP notice and containing specified shipment details. The sample format shows the expected information: consignee, shipper, quantity, description, weight, cube, carrier, vehicle identification, bill of lading or other lading document, contract number, and estimated time of arrival.
Carrier and document identification
The notice must identify the carrier used, the vehicle or car number, and the lading document number or type. If the shipment is not moved under a bill of lading, the contractor must identify the lading document used and state whether the contractor paid for it.
Responsibilities
Contractor
Determine whether the shipment falls within the clause’s covered categories, prepare the REPSHIP notice, send it by rapid means so it is received at least 24 hours before arrival, and include all required shipment and transportation details on the bill of lading or other document.
Contracting Officer
Decide whether to direct different shipment-notice procedures, and ensure the clause is included when prescribed by FAR 47.208-2. The Contracting Officer may also tailor or waive the default notice method if the contract so provides.
Consignee Transportation Officer
Receive the advance shipment notice and use it to plan for receipt, handling, security, and transportation coordination. This office is the intended recipient of the REPSHIP information.
Receiving Transportation Officer
Receive the bill of lading or other REPSHIP document containing the shipment details and use it for inbound transportation and receiving control.
Carrier
Transport the shipment as arranged; while not directly responsible for the REPSHIP notice, the carrier’s identity, vehicle information, and timing are part of the required notice and must be accurately reported.
Practical Implications
Contractors need a reliable process to flag REPSHIP-covered shipments early, because the 24-hour advance notice requirement can be missed easily if shipping and logistics teams are not coordinated.
The clause is often overlooked for large but ordinary freight movements; even non-sensitive shipments can trigger REPSHIP if they meet the 20,000-pound or full-capacity threshold.
Accuracy matters: wrong carrier name, vehicle number, ETA, or contract reference can make the notice less useful to the Government and may create compliance issues.
Because the notice must be sent by rapid means, contractors should not rely on standard mail or last-minute shipment paperwork; email, fax, or other fast transmission methods are typically used if acceptable to the Government.
For sensitive or hazardous cargo, REPSHIP is part of a broader security and safety control process, so failure to notify can disrupt receiving operations and may raise contract performance concerns.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 47.208-2 , insert the following clause: Report of Shipment (REPSHIP) (Feb 2006) (a) Definition . "Domestic destination", as used in this clause, means- (1) A destination within the contiguous United States; or (2) If shipment originates in Alaska or Hawaii, a destination in Alaska or Hawaii, respectively. (b) Unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall- (1) Send a prepaid notice of shipment to the consignee transportation officer- (i) For all shipments of- (A) Classified material, protected sensitive, and protected controlled material; (B) Explosives and poisons, class 1, division 1.1 , 1.2 and 1.3 ; class 2, division 2.3 and class 6, division 6.1 ; (C) Radioactive materials requiring the use of a III bar label; or (ii) When a truckload/carload shipment of supplies weighing 20,000 pounds or more, or a shipment of less weight that occupies the full visible capacity of a railway car or motor vehicle, is given to any carrier (common, contract, or private) for transportation to a domestic destination (other than a port for export); (2) Transmits the notice by rapid means to be received by the consignee transportation officer at least 24 hours before the arrival of the shipment; and (3) Send, to the receiving transportation officer, the bill of lading or letter or other document containing the following information and prominently identified as a "Report of Shipment"or "REPSHIP FOR T.O." REPSHIP FOR T.O. 81 JUN 01 TRANSPORTATION OFFICER DEFENSE DEPOT, MEMPHIS, TN. SHIPPED YOUR DEPOT 1981 JUN 1 540 CTNS MENS COTTON TROUSERS, 30,240 LB, 1782 CUBE, VIA XX-YY* IN CAR NO. XX 123456**-BL***-C98000031**** CONTRACT DLA_____ETA*****-JUNE 5 JONES & CO., JERSEY CITY, N.J. *Name of rail carrier, trucker, or other carrier. **Vehicle identification. ***Bill of lading. ****If not shipped by BL, identify lading document and state whether paid by contractor. *****Estimated time of arrival. (End of clause)