<P> The nature of the Changes clause for cost reimbursement contracts is somewhat different from that for fixed - price contracts because in the case of a cost reimbursement contract the contractor is already entitled to reimbursement for all of its reasonable costs and only needs an adjustment in the target price or the amount of its fee . The clause provides for such an adjustment to be made in the estimated cost, delivery or completion schedule, and the amount of any fixed fee . </P> <P> There are a number of basic rules regarding the Changes clause that have been developed by the courts and boards of contract appeals over the years . One of the fundamental tenets is that a contractor cannot claim an equitable adjustment where it incurs additional costs or performance delays voluntarily, rather than as a result of government action . Another tenet is that a contractor cannot prevail on its claim for equitable adjustment unless it shows that its interpretation of the contract is reasonable . Moreover, the government is responsible only for changes ordered, approved, or adopted by the contracting officer or an authorized representative of the contracting officer . </P> <P> To recover for a change, the contractor must show that the change caused the increased costs or delays for which it is seeking compensation . A contractor ordinarily will not be entitled to recover for a constructive change in the work required by the government where the government's actions were not the direct cause of the contractor's increased costs . An example of such a situation is where government - furnished property is not at the work site on schedule, but does not cause any delay to the contractor because, for other reasons, the contractor was not ready to proceed with the installation of that property . Where, however, a contractor and the government are both responsible, through their unreasonable acts, for failure to discover a differing site condition, the costs of the delay have been ordered shared . </P>

What is a clause that changes with the times