When can the government refuse to make payment to an institution for work already conducted?

The government can refuse to make payment to an institution for work already conducted under various types of contracts when certain conditions are not met. In the context of this question, the key factor is the completion and acceptance of deliverables.

For a cost reimbursement contract, the payment is contingent upon the completion of specific deliverables. If these deliverables are not completed, submitted, and accepted by the government, the contractor may not receive payment for those services or goods, as the contract stipulations have not been fulfilled.

Similarly, in a fixed price contract, the agreement usually requires that certain deliverables be completed and accepted before payment is made. If the deliverables are either incomplete or not accepted, the government retains the right to refuse payment since the terms of the contract have not been satisfied.

In the case of a delivery order contract, while it may operate slightly differently, the fundamental principle remains the same. Deliverables must be completed, submitted, and accepted for payment to be processed. Failure to meet these criteria would justify the government's refusal to make payment.

Thus, the answer encompasses all these scenarios, highlighting that the completion and acceptance of deliverables are crucial conditions across various types of contracts for the government to fulfill its payment obligations.