FAR 14.201-2—Part I—The Schedule.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 14.201-2 tells the contracting officer how to build Part I of the Uniform Contract Format, known as the Schedule, for sealed bidding solicitations. It covers Section A through Section H: the solicitation/contract form, supplies or services and prices, description/specifications, packaging and marking, inspection and acceptance, deliveries or performance, contract administration data, and special contract requirements. In practice, this section is the roadmap for organizing the invitation for bids so bidders can find the essential terms, pricing structure, technical requirements, delivery expectations, and administrative instructions in a consistent format. It also ties the Schedule to other FAR parts, including Part 11 for requirements and delivery schedules, Part 46 for quality assurance, and the contract clause section for special requirements. The practical significance is that a well-prepared Schedule reduces ambiguity, supports full and open competition, and helps prevent bid mistakes, protests, and post-award disputes.
Key Rules
Use the proper solicitation form
The contracting officer must prepare the invitation for bids on SF 33 unless another form is permitted by the FAR. If SF 1447 is used, certain first-page information must be placed in block 9 of that form.
Include required first-page data
If neither SF 33 nor SF 1447 is used, the first page of the IFB must contain specific identifying and submission information, including the issuing activity, IFB number, date, bid due time, page count, requisition authority, bidder name and address requirements, and payment mailing address instructions.
State supplies or services clearly
Section B must provide a brief description of the supplies or services, including line item number, national stock number or part number if applicable, title or name, and quantities. The SF 33 or SF 1447 may be supplemented with OF 336 when needed.
Add technical detail for competition
Section C must include any additional description or specifications needed beyond Section B to support full and open competition. The goal is to give bidders enough information to compete on an equal basis.
Set packaging and marking rules
Section D must state any packaging, packing, preservation, and marking requirements. If there are no special requirements, this section may be minimal, but any applicable requirements must be stated clearly.
Define inspection and acceptance
Section E must include inspection, acceptance, quality assurance, and reliability requirements. These requirements should align with FAR Part 46 and tell bidders what standards will be used to evaluate delivered supplies or services.
Specify delivery or performance terms
Section F must state the time, place, and method of delivery or performance. These requirements should be consistent with FAR Subpart 11.4 and should be detailed enough to avoid confusion about when and where performance is due.
Provide administration data
Section G must include any required accounting and appropriation data and any contract administration information or instructions not already on the solicitation form. This section is where the government places administrative details needed to manage the contract.
State special requirements clearly
Section H must contain any special contract requirements not already covered in Section I or elsewhere in the uniform contract format. This section is reserved for unique requirements that need to be highlighted for bidders.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Prepare the Schedule in the required uniform contract format, choose the proper solicitation form, and ensure each section contains the information needed for a complete, clear, and legally sufficient IFB. The contracting officer must also coordinate the Schedule with the technical requirements, delivery terms, quality requirements, and contract clauses.
Technical/Requirements Personnel
Provide accurate descriptions, specifications, packaging needs, inspection criteria, delivery requirements, and any special technical or performance requirements so the contracting officer can place them in the correct Schedule sections.
Contract Administration Personnel
Provide accounting, appropriation, and administration instructions that must appear in Section G, and ensure those instructions are consistent with post-award administration processes.
Bidders
Review the Schedule carefully, provide the required name and address information in the bid, follow the stated submission instructions, and price the line items and requirements exactly as presented.
Agency Requiring Activity
Define the actual need in a way that supports clear line items, specifications, delivery schedules, and special requirements, and avoid vague or conflicting requirements that could undermine competition.
Practical Implications
This section is mainly about organization and clarity: if the Schedule is incomplete or poorly structured, bidders may misunderstand the requirement, submit nonresponsive bids, or challenge the solicitation.
The contracting officer must make sure the form used matches the FAR requirements; using the wrong form or putting required information in the wrong place can create avoidable administrative problems.
Sections B through H should work together without contradictions. For example, the item description, specifications, delivery schedule, and inspection criteria must all align, or bidders may price different assumptions.
Special requirements belong in Section H only when they are not already covered elsewhere. Repeating or scattering requirements across sections can create ambiguity and increase the risk of disputes.
For contractors, the practical lesson is to read the entire Schedule, not just the price line items. Small details such as payment mailing address instructions, packaging rules, or delivery location can affect bid preparation and performance costs.
Official Regulatory Text
The contracting officer shall prepare the Schedule as follows: (a) Section A, Solicitation/contract form. (1) Prepare the invitation for bids on SF 33 , unless otherwise permitted by this regulation. The SF 33 is the first page of the solicitation and includes Section A of the uniform contract format. When the SF 1447 is used as the solicitation document, the information in subdivisions (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(iv) of this subsection shall be inserted in block9 of the SF 1447 . (2) When the SF 33 or SF 1447 is not used, include the following on the first page of the invitation for bids: (i) Name, address, and location of issuing activity, including room and building where bids must be submitted. (ii) Invitation for bids number. (iii) Date of issuance. (iv) Time specified for receipt of bids. (v) Number of pages. (vi) Requisition or other purchase authority. (vii) Requirement for bidder to provide its name and complete address, including street, city, county, state, and ZIP code. (viii) A statement that bidders should include in the bid the address to which payment should be mailed, if that address is different from that of the bidder. (b) Section B, Supplies or services and prices . Include a brief description of the supplies or services; e.g. , line item number, national stock number/part number if applicable, title or name identifying the supplies or services, and quantities (see part 11 ). The SF 33 and the SF 1447 may be supplemented as necessary by the OptionalForm336 ( OF 336 ), Continuation Sheet. (c) Section C, Description/specifications . Include any description or specifications needed in addition to Section B to permit full and open competition (see part 11 ). (d) Section D, Packaging and marking. Provide packaging, packing, preservation, and marking requirements, if any. (e) Section E, Inspection and acceptance . Include inspection, acceptance, quality assurance, and reliability requirements (see part 46 , Quality Assurance). (f) Section F, Deliveries or performance . Specify the requirements for time, place, and method of delivery or performance (see subpart 11.4 , Delivery or Performance Schedules). (g) Section G, Contract administration data . Include any required accounting and appropriation data and any required contract administration information or instructions other than those on the solicitation form. (h) Section H, Special contract requirements . Include a clear statement of any special contract requirements that are not included in Section I, Contract clauses, or in other sections of the uniform contract format.