FAR 4.1008—Solicitation provision.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 4.1008 is a very short but mandatory solicitation rule: it tells contracting officers to insert the provision at 52.204-22, Alternative Line Item Proposal, in all solicitations. In practice, this section is about ensuring every solicitation includes the standard government-wide provision that allows offerors to propose alternative line item structures when the solicitation permits it. The rule is part of the broader FAR framework for line item identification and proposal preparation, and it helps keep offers organized, comparable, and administratively manageable. Although the text is brief, its effect is important because it standardizes solicitation language and alerts offerors to the possibility of submitting alternative line item proposals where allowed. For contractors, it signals that the solicitation may permit a different line-item arrangement than the one initially requested, but only within the terms of the provision and the solicitation. For contracting officers, it is a mandatory inclusion requirement, not a discretionary one, so omission can create solicitation defects or evaluation issues.
Key Rules
Insert the provision
Contracting officers must include FAR 52.204-22, Alternative Line Item Proposal, in all solicitations. This is a universal insertion requirement under this section.
Applies to every solicitation
The rule does not limit the provision to certain contract types, dollar values, or acquisition methods in the text of this section. The instruction is categorical: all solicitations must contain the provision.
Standardizes offer structure
The provision supports consistent treatment of alternative line item proposals by giving offerors notice of the government’s rules for proposing alternate line item arrangements. This helps preserve clarity in pricing, evaluation, and award administration.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Must insert FAR 52.204-22, Alternative Line Item Proposal, into every solicitation issued.
Agency
Must ensure acquisition templates, solicitation checklists, and review processes support mandatory inclusion of the provision.
Contractor/Offeror
Must review the solicitation provision and follow its instructions if submitting an alternative line item proposal.
Practical Implications
This is a simple but mandatory checklist item for contracting officers; leaving it out can create a solicitation defect and may require amendment before award.
Contractors should read the provision carefully because it may affect how they structure pricing, CLINs, or alternative proposals.
Because the rule applies to all solicitations, agencies should build it into standard templates to avoid accidental omission.
The provision does not itself authorize alternative line item proposals in every case; it must be read together with the solicitation and the provision’s terms.
If a solicitation is missing the provision, bidders may be uncertain about whether alternative line item proposals are allowed, which can lead to confusion, protests, or evaluation problems.
Official Regulatory Text
Insert the provision at 52.204-22 , Alternative Line Item Proposal, in all solicitations.