FAR 14.000—Scope of part.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 14.000 states the scope of FAR Part 14, which governs sealed bidding. It identifies the major subjects covered by the part: the basic requirements for using sealed bidding to buy supplies and services, including construction; what must be included in the solicitation or invitation for bids; how bids are submitted; how bids are opened, evaluated, and used to award contracts; and the special procedures for two-step sealed bidding. In practice, this section does not itself set out the detailed rules, but it tells contracting officers and contractors what to expect in the rest of Part 14 and when sealed bidding procedures apply. Its purpose is to organize the part and make clear that sealed bidding is a structured, formal procurement method with specific rules for competition, bid submission, public opening, and award. For agencies, it signals that compliance depends on following the detailed procedures in the later sections of Part 14. For contractors, it highlights that bids must be prepared and submitted exactly as required because sealed bidding is generally rigid and does not allow negotiation after bid opening.
Key Rules
Covers sealed bidding basics
Part 14 sets the basic requirements for contracting by sealed bidding for supplies and services, including construction. This means the part applies to procurements where award is made based on publicly solicited bids and the lowest responsive, responsible bid, rather than negotiation.
Defines solicitation content
The part addresses what information must be included in the invitation for bids. This ensures bidders receive enough detail to prepare responsive bids and understand the government’s requirements, terms, and evaluation approach.
Governs bid submission
Part 14 includes procedures for submitting bids. These rules are important because sealed bidding depends on strict handling of bid timing, format, and delivery to preserve fairness and equal treatment.
Controls bid opening and award
The part covers how bids are opened, evaluated, and awarded. These procedures are designed to ensure transparency at opening and to limit award decisions to the rules stated in the solicitation and the FAR.
Includes two-step sealed bidding
Part 14 also provides procedures for two-step sealed bidding. This method separates technical evaluation from price competition and is used when the government needs to establish acceptability before requesting priced bids.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Use Part 14 when sealed bidding is the chosen acquisition method, prepare the invitation for bids with the required information, receive and safeguard bids, conduct public opening and evaluation in accordance with the FAR, and make award based on the applicable sealed bidding rules. The contracting officer must also follow the special procedures for two-step sealed bidding when that method is used.
Agency
Ensure procurements using sealed bidding are structured and administered in compliance with Part 14, including proper solicitation preparation, bid handling procedures, and award documentation. The agency must support fair competition and maintain the integrity of the sealed bidding process.
Contractor/Bidder
Prepare and submit bids exactly as required by the invitation for bids and the FAR, meet submission deadlines, and understand that bids are generally evaluated as submitted after opening. In two-step sealed bidding, the bidder must first respond to the technical step and then, if found acceptable, submit a priced bid in the second step.
Practical Implications
This section is a roadmap to the rest of FAR Part 14, so users should treat it as an index of the major sealed bidding requirements rather than a standalone rule set.
Because sealed bidding is highly procedural, small mistakes in bid preparation or submission can make a bid nonresponsive or untimely.
Contracting officers should confirm that sealed bidding is the right method before relying on Part 14, since the process is less flexible than negotiated procurement.
Bidders should pay close attention to the invitation for bids and submission instructions, because award is typically based on strict compliance rather than post-opening clarification.
Two-step sealed bidding can be useful when technical acceptability must be established first, but it adds process complexity and requires careful sequencing of the two steps.
Official Regulatory Text
This part prescribes- (a) The basic requirements of contracting for supplies and services (including construction) by sealed bidding; (b) The information to be included in the solicitation (invitation for bids); (c) Procedures concerning the submission of bids; (d) Requirements for opening and evaluating bids and awarding contracts; and (e) Procedures for two-step sealed bidding.