What does FAR 49.207 certification mean?

FAR 49.207 requires the contractor to certify that the settlement proposal accurately represents costs claimed and complies with applicable cost principles. This certification is required before your proposal can be submitted to the TCO.

The certification language states that to the best of your knowledge and belief, the proposal is made in good faith, the supporting data is accurate and complete, and the amount requested accurately reflects the settlement amount for which you believe the government is liable.

Who must sign: An officer of the company — not a bookkeeper, accountant, or project manager. The person signing must have authority to bind the company and sufficient knowledge of the claim to certify its accuracy.

Why it matters — the False Claims Act: A knowing false certification can constitute a violation of the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729), which carries civil penalties up to three times the amount fraudulently claimed, plus per-claim penalties. This is not theoretical risk — the Department of Justice actively pursues False Claims Act cases in government contracting.

Practical guidance: Review your cost data thoroughly before signing. If your accounting records do not support a cost element, do not include it. If you are uncertain whether a cost is allowable under FAR Part 31, either exclude it or include it with an explicit disclosure. A disclosed questionable cost is far safer than a silently included unallowable cost — the former shows good faith, the latter creates legal exposure.

T4CClaim walks you through each cost category and displays the certification language for your review before generating your proposal. You are always the one who reviews and certifies — the tool organizes and formats, it does not certify on your behalf.

RELATED GUIDES

• → What is a FAR 49.206 settlement proposal?
• → FAR Part 31 allowable costs
• → Filing T4C without an attorney