FAR 53.232—Contract financing (SF 1443).
Plain-English Summary
FAR 53.232 addresses the use of Standard Form 1443, Contractor’s Request for Progress Payment, as the prescribed form for contractors to request progress payments under applicable contracts. In practical terms, this section is about the paperwork and process used to support financing of contract performance before final delivery and acceptance, especially on contracts that allow progress payments based on costs incurred or other authorized bases. It tells contracting personnel and contractors which form to use when requesting payment, and it ties the request to the progress payment system established elsewhere in the FAR and the contract. The section is short, but it matters because progress payments affect contractor cash flow, government risk, invoice administration, and the documentation needed to justify payment. In day-to-day practice, this means contractors must prepare the SF 1443 accurately and consistently with contract terms, while contracting officers and payment offices must rely on it as the standard request vehicle for reviewing and processing progress payments.
Key Rules
Use SF 1443
The prescribed form for contractor requests for progress payments is Standard Form 1443, Contractor’s Request for Progress Payment. If a contract authorizes progress payments and the agency uses this mechanism, the contractor should submit the request on this form unless the contract or agency instructions provide otherwise.
Applies to progress payments
This section is limited to progress payment requests; it does not itself create the right to progress payments or define the payment formula. The underlying entitlement, timing, and calculation rules come from the contract and the applicable FAR progress payment clauses.
Standardized request format
Using SF 1443 standardizes the information contractors provide when seeking progress payments. That helps the Government review costs, track funding status, and process payments consistently across contracts and agencies.
Contract terms control
The form must be used in a way that is consistent with the specific contract clause governing progress payments. The contract determines what costs are allowable for the request, what supporting data is required, and how the payment amount is computed.
Responsibilities
Contractor
Prepare and submit SF 1443 when requesting progress payments, ensuring the request is complete, accurate, and consistent with the contract’s progress payment clause and supporting cost records.
Contracting Officer
Ensure the contract uses the proper progress payment clause and that the contractor understands the required request format; review or coordinate review of progress payment requests as needed under agency procedures.
Payment Office / Finance Office
Process SF 1443 requests in accordance with the contract, applicable FAR clauses, and agency payment procedures, including verifying that the request is properly supported before disbursement.
Agency
Provide internal procedures and controls for administering progress payments, including any supplemental instructions for submission, review, and payment processing.
Practical Implications
Contractors should treat SF 1443 as a formal financing request, not just an invoice; errors or unsupported amounts can delay payment.
Because the form is only the vehicle for the request, users must still follow the contract’s progress payment clause for what can be claimed and how it is calculated.
Inaccurate cost data, missing backup, or inconsistent accounting records are common causes of rejected or reduced progress payment requests.
Contracting officers and payment personnel should verify that the contract actually authorizes progress payments before relying on SF 1443.
The section is brief, so the real compliance risk comes from overlooking the related FAR clauses and contract-specific instructions that govern the substance of the payment request.
Official Regulatory Text
SF 1443 (Nov 2021), Contractor’s Request for Progress Payment . SF 1443 is prescribed for use in obtaining contractors’ requests for progress payments.