FAR 14.201-6—Solicitation provisions.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 14.201-6 tells contracting officers which standard solicitation provisions must be included in invitations for bids (IFBs) under sealed bidding, and when certain provisions are optional, conditional, or reserved. It covers the core bid-submission provisions that apply to all IFBs, such as amendments to invitations, false statements, submission rules, late bids, and bid acceptance periods, as well as special provisions for construction, uniform contract format solicitations, bid samples, descriptive literature, multiple awards, two-step sealed bidding, facsimile bids, and language/currency requirements. The section exists to make sealed bidding fair, predictable, and administratively workable by ensuring bidders receive the same instructions and are held to the same rules. In practice, it is a checklist for the contracting officer: the wrong omission, inclusion, or alternate provision can affect bid responsiveness, competition, and award validity. Contractors also rely on these provisions to know exactly how to prepare, submit, modify, and support their bids, and what risks they face if they miss a deadline or fail to provide required information.
Key Rules
Core IFB provisions required
All IFBs must include the provisions on amendments to invitations for bids and false statements in bids. These provisions ensure bidders are informed of changes to the solicitation and are warned that inaccurate statements can have legal consequences.
Submission and late bid rules
IFBs must include the provisions on submission of bids, explanation to prospective bidders, and late submissions, modifications, and withdrawals. These rules govern how bids are delivered, how bidders may seek clarification, and when a bid or change is too late to be considered.
Bid acceptance period provisions
The contracting officer must include the appropriate bid acceptance period provision depending on the solicitation format and whether a minimum period is specified. These provisions control how long a bidder must keep its offer open and when the government may accept it.
Construction-specific provisions
Construction IFBs require special provisions on preparation of bids and contract award under sealed bidding for construction. These provisions reflect the different structure and pricing practices common in construction acquisitions.
Special technical and evaluation requirements
When bid samples, descriptive literature, multiple awards, or two-step sealed bidding are involved, the corresponding provisions must be inserted only when the stated conditions apply. These provisions tell bidders what technical support or special submission format is required and how the government will evaluate bids.
Facsimile, language, and currency rules
If facsimile bids are authorized, the IFB must include the facsimile bids provision. If the solicitation includes certain trade-related clauses, it must also require offers in English and in U.S. currency unless a foreign-currency evaluation clause is used.
Reserved paragraphs signal no current rule
Several paragraphs are reserved, meaning there is no active provision requirement in those slots. Contracting officers should not treat reserved paragraphs as optional requirements; they simply do not prescribe anything at present.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Determine which provisions apply to the specific IFB and insert the required FAR 52.214-series provisions and any applicable alternates. The contracting officer must also decide whether optional provisions are necessary, whether waivers are appropriate, and whether the solicitation format or acquisition type triggers special requirements such as construction, two-step sealed bidding, facsimile bids, English-language submission, or U.S.-currency submission.
Bidder/Contractor
Review the IFB provisions carefully and comply with all bid preparation, submission, acceptance-period, and supporting-document requirements. The bidder must submit bids in the required form, by the required deadline, in the required language and currency if applicable, and provide bid samples or descriptive literature when required.
Agency/Procuring Activity
Support the contracting officer by ensuring the solicitation package is complete, consistent, and aligned with the acquisition method and any special statutory or regulatory requirements. The agency must also avoid conflicting instructions that could undermine competition or create ambiguity for bidders.
Practical Implications
This section functions as a solicitation checklist; missing a required provision can create bid protest risk or make the solicitation defective.
Contractors should pay close attention to late-bid, modification, and withdrawal rules because sealed bidding is strict and usually unforgiving of missed deadlines.
Construction IFBs and two-step sealed bidding have their own special provisions, so using the wrong template is a common source of error.
If bid samples or descriptive literature are required, bidders should assume the government will use them to judge responsiveness or technical acceptability unless the solicitation clearly provides for waivers.
Language and currency requirements can be easy to overlook in solicitations with international trade clauses, but failure to comply can make an offer unacceptable or difficult to evaluate.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) The provisions prescribed in this subsection apply to preparation and submission of bids in general. See other FAR parts for provisions and clauses related to specific acquisition requirements. (b) Insert in all invitations for bids the provisions at- (1) 52.214-3 , Amendments to Invitations For Bids; and (2) 52.214-4 , False Statements in Bids. (c) Insert the following provisions in invitations for bids: (1) 52.214-5 , Submission of Bids. (2) 52.214-6 , Explanation to Prospective Bidders. (3) 52.214-7 , Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Bids. (d) [Reserved] (e) Insert in all invitations for bids, except those for construction, the provisions at 52.214-10 , Contract Award-Sealed Bidding. (f) Insert in invitations for bids to which the uniform contract format applies, the provision at 52.214-12 , Preparation of Bids. (g) [Reserved] (h) Insert the provision at 52.214-14 , Place of Performance-Sealed Bidding, in invitations for bids except those in which the place of performance is specified by the government. (i) Insert the provision at 52.214-15 , Period for Acceptance of Bids, in invitations for bids (IFB’s) that are not issued on SF 33 or SF 1447 except IFB’s- (1) For construction work; or (2) In which the government specifies a minimum acceptance period. (j) Insert the provision at 52.214-16 , Minimum Bid Acceptance Period, in invitations for bids, except for construction, if the contracting officer determines that a minimum acceptance period must be specified. (k) [Reserved] (l) Insert the provision at 52.214-18 , Preparation of Bids-Construction, in invitations for bids for construction work. (m) Insert the provision at 52.214-19 , Contract Award-Sealed Bidding-Construction, in all invitations for bids for construction work. (n) [Reserved] (o) (1) Insert the provision at 52.214-20 , Bid Samples, in invitations for bids if bid samples are required. (2) If it appears that the conditions in 14.202-4 (e)(1) will apply and the contracting officer anticipates granting waivers and- (i) If the nature of the required product does not necessitate limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate I; or (ii) If the nature of the required product necessitates limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate II. (3) See 14.202-4 (e)(2) regarding waiving the requirement for all bidders. (p) (1) Insert the provision at 52.214-21 , Descriptive Literature, in invitations for bids if- (i) Descriptive literature is required to evaluate the technical acceptability of an offered product; and (ii) The required information will not be readily available unless it is submitted by bidders. (2) Use the basic clause with its Alternate I if the possibility exists that the contracting officer may waive the requirement for furnishing descriptive literature for a bidder offering a previously supplied product that meets specification requirements of the current solicitation. (3) See 14.202-5 (d)(2) regarding waiving the requirement for all bidders. (q) Insert the provision at 52.214-22 , Evaluation of Bids for Multiple Awards, in invitations for bids if the contracting officer determines that multiple awards might be made if doing so is economically advantageous to the government. (r) Insert the provision at 52.214-23 , Late Submissions, Modifications, Revisions, and Withdrawals of Technical Proposals Under Two-Step Sealed Bidding, in solicitations for technical proposals in step one of two-step sealed bidding. (s) Insert the provision at 52.214-24 , Multiple Technical Proposals, in solicitations for technical proposals in step one of two-step sealed bidding if the contracting officer permits the submission of multiple technical proposals. (t) Insert the provision at 52.214-25 , Step Two of Two-Step Sealed Bidding, in invitations for bids issued under step two of two-step sealed bidding. (u) [Reserved] (v) Insert the provision at 52.214-31 , Facsimile Bids, in solicitations if facsimile bids are authorized (see 14.202-7 ). (w) Insert the provision at 52.214-34 , Submission of Offers in the English Language, in solicitations that include any of the clauses prescribed in 25.1101 or 25.1102 . It may be included in other solicitations when the contracting officer decides that it is necessary. (x) Insert the provision at 52.214-35 , Submission of Offers in U.S. Currency, in solicitations that include any of the clauses prescribed in 25.1101 or 25.1102 , unless the contracting officer includes the clause at 52.225-17 , Evaluation of Foreign Currency Offers, as prescribed in 25.1103 (d). It may be included in other solicitations when the contracting officer decides that it is necessary.