252.228-7001 — Ground and Flight Risk.
Researched by the BidStride Research Team
What This Clause Requires
DFARS 252.228-7001 — Ground and Flight Risk.. This clause is part of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement and applies specifically to Department of Defense contracts.
Official Regulation Text
252.228-7001 Ground and Flight Risk. As prescribed in 228.371(b), use the following clause: Ground and Flight Risk (MAR 2023) (a) Definitions. As used in this clause— Aircraft means, unless otherwise provided in the contract Schedule, any item, other than a rocket or missile, intended for flight ( e.g., fixed-winged aircraft, blended wing/lifting bodies, helicopters, vertical take-off or landing aircraft, lighter-than-air airships, and unmanned aerial vehicles), including emerging technologies that would commonly be considered aircraft. New production articles become aircraft at a stage of manufacture or production when a wing, portion of a wing, or engine is attached to a fuselage. Blended wing/lifting bodies become aircraft at a stage of manufacture or production when the center portion and a lifting surface become attached. Contractor's managerial personnel means the Contractor's directors, officers, managers, superintendents, or equivalent representatives who have supervision or direction of— (1) All, or substantially all, of the Contractor's business; (2) All, or substantially all, of the Contractor's operation at any one plant or separate location; or (3) A separate and complete major industrial operation. Contractor's premises means those premises, including subcontractors' premises, designated in the Schedule or in writing by the Contracting Officer, and any other place the aircraft is moved for safeguarding. Covered aircraft means an aircraft owned by or to be delivered to the Government and, when determined by the contracting officer and specifically identified as such in the contract Schedule, may include contractor-furnished aircraft that are not intended for induction into the DoD inventory, including— (1) Aircraft furnished by the Government to the Contractor under this contract while in the Contractor's possession, care, custody, or control regardless of their location or state of disassembly or reassembly; (2) Items removed from a Government furnishe
Compliance Checklist
- Crewmember means, unless otherwise provided in the Schedule, personnel required in the flight manual, assigned for the purpose of conducting any flight on behalf of the Contractor.
- All aircraft off the Contractor's premises shall be considered to be in flight when on the ground or water for reasonable periods of time following emergency landings, landings made in performance of the contract, or landings approved in writing by the contracting officer.
- The Contractor shall be bound by the operating procedures contained in the combined regulation/instruction entitled “Contractor's Flight and Ground Operations” (Air Force Instruction 10-220, Army Regulation 95-20, NAVAIR Instruction 3710.1 (Series), Coast Guard Instruction M13020.3 (Series), and Defense Contract Management Agency Instruction 8210-1 (Series) in effect on the date of contract award.
- Compliance with the combined regulation/instruction is required from the time of contract award throughout the period of performance of the contract, regardless of the Government's assumption of risk under the contract.
- (3) The Contractor is not liable for loss, damage, or destruction of covered aircraft as the result of normal wear and tear, or intentional damage or destruction as required in the Schedule.
- The Government's assumption of risk under this clause shall not extend to damage, loss, or destruction of covered aircraft which— (1) Is the result of willful misconduct or lack of good faith on the part of the Contractor's managerial personnel, including the Contractor's oversight of subcontractors; (2) Is sustained during flight if either the flight or the crewmembers have not been approved in advance and in writing by the GFR, who has been authorized in accordance with the combined regulation/instruction entitled “Contractor's Flight and Ground Operations”; (3) Occurs in the course of transportation by rail, or by conveyance on public streets, highways, or waterways, unless the transportation is limited to the vicinity of the Contractor's premises, and incidental to work performed under the contract as described in the Schedule; (4) Is covered by insurance; (5) Occurs after the Contracting Officer has, in writing, revoked the Government's assumption of risk in accordance with paragraph (e)(3) of this clause; or (6) Is sustained due to workmanship errors.
- (2) Upon receipt of the preliminary notice of revocation, the Contractor shall promptly correct the noncompliance or cited conditions, regardless of whether there is agreement that the conditions are unreasonable.
- (4) If the Contracting Officer issues a notice of revocation pursuant to the terms of this clause— (i) The Contractor shall thereafter assume the entire risk for damage, loss, or destruction of the previously covered aircraft; (ii) Any costs incurred by the Contractor (including the costs of the Contractor's self-insurance, insurance premiums paid to insure the Contractor's assumption of risk, deductibles associated with such purchased insurance, etc.) to mitigate its risk are unallowable costs; and (iii) The liability provisions of the clause at FAR 52.245-1, Government Property, are not applicable to the aircraft impacted by the notice of revocation.
- (5) The Contractor shall promptly notify the Contracting Officer when the noncompliance or cited conditions have been corrected.
- (6) The notice of revocation does not relieve the Contractor of its obligation to comply with all other provisions of this clause, including the combined regulation/instruction entitled “Contractor's Flight and Ground Operations.” (7) Any disputes regarding the Contracting Officer's notice of revocation shall be subject to FAR clause 52.233-1, Disputes.
- (1) In the event of damage, loss, or destruction of covered aircraft, the Contractor shall take all reasonable steps to protect the aircraft from further damage, to separate damaged and undamaged aircraft, and to put all aircraft in the best possible order.
- Except in cases covered by paragraph (h)(2) of this clause, the Contractor shall furnish to the Contracting Officer a statement of— (i) The damaged, lost, or destroyed aircraft; (ii) The time and origin of the damage, loss, or destruction; (iii) All known interests in commingled property of which aircraft are a part; and (iv) The insurance, if any, covering the interest in commingled property.
- (3) If a new production aircraft is damaged, lost, or destroyed after it has become a covered aircraft, the Contractor shall take action in accordance with the Contracting Officer's written direction that the aircraft shall be— (i) Replaced; (ii) Repaired to the condition immediately prior to the damage; or (iii) Considered beyond economic repair.
- The Contracting Officer will decide whether further actions are required under the contract.
- (4) If a covered aircraft that has been furnished by the Government to the Contractor is damaged, lost, or destroyed while covered, the Contractor shall take action in accordance with the Contracting Officer's written direction that the aircraft shall be— (i) Repaired; or (ii) Considered beyond economic repair.
- The Contracting Officer will decide further actions required under the contract.
- (2) If the Government requires covered aircraft be replaced or repaired by the Contractor, any resulting equitable adjustment shall not include reimbursement of the Contractor's share of loss.
- In the event the Contractor is reimbursed or compensated by a third party for damage, loss, or destruction of covered aircraft and has also been compensated by the Government, the Contractor shall equitably reimburse the Government.
- The Contractor shall do nothing to prejudice the Government's right to recover against third parties for damage, loss, or destruction.
- Upon the request of the Contracting Officer or authorized representative, the Contractor shall at Government expense furnish to the Government all reasonable assistance and cooperation (including the prosecution of suit and the execution of instruments of assignment or subrogation) in obtaining recovery.
Flow-Down to Subcontractors
Flow-down required
This clause must be included in subcontracts with no subcontractors where the subcontractor will perform work covered by this clause. Typically appears in contract Section Section I.
Frequently Asked Questions
DFARS 252.228-7001 (Ground and Flight Risk.) is a Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement clause applicable to Department of Defense contracts.
DFARS 252.228-7001 is typically required in DoD contracts when the contracting officer determines it's applicable. Check Section I of your solicitation.
Flow-down requirements vary. Review the specific clause text for subcontractor applicability provisions.
This summary is for informational purposes only and reflects the BidStride Research Team's plain-English interpretation of the regulation. It is not legal advice and does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Always consult the official Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) text and qualified legal counsel for compliance decisions.