FAR 14.203-2—Dissemination of information concerning invitations for bids.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 14.203-2 is a cross-reference provision that tells contracting personnel where to find the rules for publicizing invitations for bids (IFBs). It covers four dissemination methods: displaying invitations in a public place, releasing information to newspapers and trade journals, placing paid advertisements, and synopsizing solicitations through the Governmentwide point of entry (GPE). The section does not itself create detailed procedures; instead, it directs users to FAR 5.101 and FAR subpart 5.2, which govern synopsis and publicizing requirements. In practice, this means contracting officers and acquisition staff must use the FAR Part 5 rules when deciding how to announce an IFB, rather than relying on Part 14 alone. The purpose is to ensure consistent, transparent, and legally sufficient notice to the public and potential bidders. For contractors, the practical significance is that IFB opportunities are generally found through the government’s official public notice channels, especially the GPE, rather than through informal or agency-specific methods alone.
Key Rules
Use Part 5 for publicizing
This section does not set out the full dissemination procedure itself. Instead, it directs the reader to FAR 5.101 and subpart 5.2 for the governing rules on publicizing IFBs.
Public display is covered elsewhere
If an agency displays an IFB in a public place, the requirements for doing so are found in FAR 5.101. Contracting personnel must follow those rules rather than inventing local procedures.
Media releases follow Part 5
Information releases to newspapers and trade journals are addressed under FAR Part 5. Any such outreach must comply with the applicable synopsis and publicizing standards.
Paid advertisements are controlled by Part 5
If the agency uses paid advertisements to announce an IFB, the authority and limits for that action come from FAR 5.101 and subpart 5.2.
GPE synopsis is the standard channel
Synopsis through the Governmentwide point of entry is specifically referenced as a required or authorized dissemination method under Part 5. This is the central official channel for broad public notice of federal procurement opportunities.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Follow FAR 5.101 and subpart 5.2 when deciding how to disseminate an IFB. Ensure any public display, media release, paid advertisement, or GPE synopsis is handled in accordance with the applicable publicizing requirements.
Acquisition/Contracting Staff
Support the contracting officer by preparing and posting the required synopsis or other public notice materials in the correct format and through the correct channels.
Agency
Maintain procedures and systems that allow IFBs to be publicized in compliance with FAR Part 5, including access to the Governmentwide point of entry and any approved public notice methods.
Potential Bidders/Contractors
Monitor the Governmentwide point of entry and other official public notice channels identified by the agency to identify IFB opportunities and obtain solicitation information.
Practical Implications
This section is mainly a roadmap, not a standalone procedure, so users must go to FAR Part 5 for the actual requirements.
A common pitfall is treating local posting practices or informal outreach as sufficient when the FAR requires official publicizing through the GPE or other Part 5 methods.
Contracting officers should verify that any newspaper, trade journal, or paid advertisement activity is authorized and properly coordinated under Part 5 before using it.
Contractors should not rely on agency websites, emails, or word-of-mouth alone; the GPE is the key official source for many IFB notices.
Because this section is cross-referential, compliance errors often come from overlooking the linked Part 5 rules rather than from misunderstanding Part 14 itself.
Official Regulatory Text
Procedures concerning display of invitations for bids in a public place, information releases to newspapers and trade journals, paid advertisements, and synopsizing through the Governmentwide point of entry (GPE) are set forth in 5.101 and subpart 5.2 .