Obligation The amounts of orders placed, contracts and subgrants awarded, services received and similar transactions that require payment by the recipient during the same or future period. (29 CFR Part 97.3) Contracts and subgrants must be fully executed to be included as an obligation. Some examples of an obligation are summer youth contracts, ITAs, open purchase orders, service provider contracts and child care contracts. Accrued expenditures are a part of the total obligations to be reported.