[Request for Waiver of Claims Provision]

The Director of Contracts of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) requested an opinion as to the validity and effect of a waiver of claims clause which OTA includes in certain contracts for research services. The clause provides that any claims not filed by the contractor within 3 months of a contract's expiration date are waived. GAO stated that contractual clauses limiting the period for the filing of claims by one party against the other have repeatedly been upheld by the courts and that these contractual clauses are valid.