Who is primarily responsible for initiating a contractor claim?

The contractor is primarily responsible for initiating a contractor claim because they are the party directly affected by the circumstances that give rise to the claim. When a contractor encounters issues such as delays, unforeseen costs, or changes in the project scope, it is their duty to formally communicate these issues to the contracting officer through a claim. This process involves submitting documentation and evidence to support their position.

The contractor's responsibility in initiating claims is rooted in contract law and the contractual obligations that govern their relationship with the government or contracting authority. It is their interest that is directly impacted, and they must advocate for themselves to seek remedies for any grievances related to their contract performance.

Other parties, such as the contracting officer or the agency head, might become involved later in the claims process, particularly in terms of evaluation and resolution, but the initial step always lies with the contractor to submit the claim based on their experiences and challenges encountered during the performance of their work.