Task Order
An individual work order issued under a larger IDIQ contract, specifying the exact scope, deliverables, and price for a particular piece of work.
How It Works
Task orders are the building blocks of IDIQ contracts. While the parent IDIQ contract establishes overall terms, each task order defines a specific project: what work will be done, what deliverables are expected, and how much the government will pay. For multiple-award IDIQ contracts, task orders above certain thresholds must be competed among all contract holders. Task orders allow agencies to move quickly — instead of running a full procurement for each project, they issue orders against existing contracts in days or weeks rather than months.
Related Terms
- Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract — A contract that establishes ceiling prices and terms but allows the government to order specific quantities as needed over a multi-year period through individual task orders.
- Federal Contract — A legally binding agreement between the U.S. government and a private company to provide goods or services — from fighter jets to IT consulting.
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About This Definition
This definition is part of the TaxDollarData Federal Spending Glossary — 31 terms explaining how the U.S. government spends taxpayer money. All definitions are written in plain language for taxpayers, journalists, contractors, and researchers.