FAR 15.504—Award to successful offeror.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 15.504 explains how a contracting officer formally makes award to the successful offeror after source selection. It covers the basic method of award delivery, when the award document must be signed by both parties, how to handle awards for less than all items when some items are withheld for later award, and what must appear on the first page of the award document when the government does not use OF 307, SF 26, or SF 33. In practice, this section is about making the award legally clear and administratively complete so there is no doubt about what the government accepted, what the contractor agreed to, and whether any additional items may still be awarded later within the proposal acceptance period. It also protects both sides when the award terms differ from the offeror’s latest signed proposal or written amendments by requiring explicit contractor assent. For contracting officers, this section is a checklist for award execution and documentation; for contractors, it signals when a signature is required and when the award may still be incomplete because some items are being held for possible later award.
Key Rules
Award by executed contract
The contracting officer must award the contract to the successful offeror by furnishing the executed contract or other notice of award to that offeror. The award is not just an internal decision; it must be formally communicated to the selected offeror.
Dual signature when terms differ
If the award document contains terms that differ from the offeror’s latest signed proposal, as amended by the offeror’s written correspondence, both the offeror and the contracting officer must sign the contract award. This ensures the contractor expressly agrees to the changed terms.
Withheld items must be identified
When award is made for less than all items that could be awarded and some items are being withheld for later award, each notice must state that the Government may make subsequent awards on those additional items within the proposal acceptance period. This preserves the government’s ability to award the remaining items later if still timely.
Required first-page language for nonstandard forms
If OF 307, SF 26, or SF 33 is not used, the first page of the award document must include the Government’s acceptance statement from Block 15 of the applicable form, excluding the Item 3 reference language. It must also include the contracting officer’s name, signature, and date.
Contractor agreement statement when terms change
If the award document differs from the signed proposal, as amended by the offeror’s written correspondence, the first page must also include the contractor’s agreement statement from Block 14 of OF 307 and the signature of the contractor’s authorized representative. This creates a clear written record of contractor acceptance of the revised award terms.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Formally award the contract to the successful offeror by issuing the executed contract or other notice of award. Ensure the award document contains the required acceptance language, signature, and date, and obtain the contractor’s signature when the award terms differ from the latest signed proposal or when the required form language is otherwise needed.
Contractor / Successful Offeror
Review the award document and sign when the award includes terms different from the latest signed proposal, as amended by written correspondence. Provide the signature of an authorized representative on the award document when required to confirm agreement to the revised terms.
Government
If awarding less than all items, clearly state in each notice that additional awards may be made within the proposal acceptance period. Preserve the ability to make later awards only while the proposal remains open for acceptance.
Agency / Contracting Activity
Use the proper award form or, if using a different document, ensure the first page contains the required acceptance statement and signature elements. Maintain award documentation that clearly shows what was accepted, what was withheld, and who agreed to the final terms.
Practical Implications
This section is a documentation control rule: if the award paper does not match the proposal exactly, you need signatures that show mutual assent to the changed terms.
If the government intends to award only part of the offer, the notice must clearly reserve the right to award the remaining items later; otherwise, the government can create avoidable disputes about whether those items were still available for award.
Using a nonstandard award document is allowed, but only if it carries the required acceptance language and signatures on the first page; missing boilerplate can create enforceability and audit problems.
Contracting officers should compare the award document against the latest signed proposal and all written amendments before issuing award to avoid accidental mismatches that trigger extra signature requirements.
Contractors should verify that the award reflects the agreed proposal terms and that any deviations are expressly captured and signed, because silence or informal understanding is not enough when the award document changes the deal.
Official Regulatory Text
The contracting officer shall award a contract to the successful offeror by furnishing the executed contract or other notice of the award to that offeror. (a) If the award document includes information that is different than the latest signed proposal, as amended by the offeror’s written correspondence, both the offeror and the contracting officer shall sign the contract award. (b) When an award is made to an offeror for less than all of the items that may be awarded and additional items are being withheld for subsequent award, each notice shall state that the Government may make subsequent awards on those additional items within the proposal acceptance period. (c) If the Optional Form (OF) 307, Contract Award, Standard Form (SF) 26 , Award/Contract, or SF 33 , Solicitation, Offer and Award, is not used to award the contract, the first page of the award document shall contain the Government’s acceptance statement from Block 15 of that form, exclusive of the Item 3 reference language, and shall contain the contracting officer’s name, signature, and date. In addition, if the award document includes information that is different than the signed proposal, as amended by the offeror’s written correspondence, the first page shall include the contractor’s agreement statement from Block14 of the OF 307 and the signature of the contractor’s authorized representative.