# Special Project > Special Project means an unexpected, brief initiative or service, not included in regular operations or services scope **Term:** Special Project **Last updated:** 2026-07-29 ## Definition ## What Special Project Means in a Contract A Special Project is a contractual mechanism used to capture work that sits outside the ordinary course of dealing between the parties. Unlike routine deliverables described in a master agreement, a Special Project is usually unplanned, temporary, and narrowly scoped to a specific outcome or event. It exists precisely because the parties did not anticipate the need for it when the underlying contract was signed. Because it is not part of the baseline services, a Special Project typically requires separate authorization. This might come in the form of a change order, a supplemental statement of work, or an amendment referencing the original agreement. The term gives both parties a shared vocabulary for distinguishing work that is already priced and scheduled from work that needs fresh negotiation. In many