FAR 4.102—Contractor’s signature.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 4.102 explains how a federal contract must be signed depending on who the contractor is: an individual, an individual doing business as a firm, a partnership, a corporation, a joint venture, or an agent signing on behalf of a principal. Its purpose is to make sure the Government contracts with the correct legal entity and that the person signing has authority to bind that entity. In practice, this section is about signature form and signature authority, not just a clerical requirement; a wrong signature block or missing authority evidence can create enforceability problems, delay award, or require corrective action. The rule also tells contracting officers what they must verify before signing for the Government, including partner lists, corporate authority, and joint venture authorization. For contractors, it means the signature line must match the legal structure of the offeror or contractor, and the signer must be properly authorized. For contracting officers, it is a due diligence requirement to confirm that the Government is dealing with the right party and that the contract will be binding on that party.
Key Rules
Individuals sign personally
A contract with an individual must be signed by that individual. If the individual is doing business as a firm, the signature must include the individual’s typed, stamped, or printed name and the phrase identifying the firm name as an individual doing business under that name.
Partnerships sign in firm name
A contract with a partnership must be signed in the partnership name. Before signing for the Government, the contracting officer must obtain a list of all partners and make sure the person or persons signing have authority to bind the partnership.
Corporations use corporate signature form
A contract with a corporation must be signed in the corporate name, followed by "by" and the signature and title of the authorized person. The contracting officer must ensure the signer has authority to bind the corporation.
Joint ventures require each participant
A contract with joint venturers may include individuals, partnerships, or corporations, and each participant must sign in the manner required for its own type. If a corporation is part of the joint venture, the contracting officer must verify that the corporation is authorized to participate in the joint venture.
Agents need satisfactory authority evidence
If someone other than the parties described above signs as an agent, the agent’s authority to bind the principal must be established by evidence satisfactory to the contracting officer. The Government should not rely on an agency signature without proof of authority.
Responsibilities
Contractor - Individual
Sign the contract personally. If operating under a firm name, include the required identification showing the individual is doing business as that firm.
Contractor - Partnership
Ensure the contract is signed in the partnership name and that the signer has actual authority to bind the partnership.
Contractor - Corporation
Use the corporate name and have an authorized officer or other authorized person sign with the proper title.
Contractor - Joint Venture
Have each participant sign in the form required for its own legal type and ensure any corporate participant is properly authorized to join the venture.
Contractor - Agent
Provide satisfactory evidence of authority to sign and bind the principal when signing as an agent.
Contracting Officer
Verify the signature form matches the contractor’s legal status, obtain partner information for partnerships, confirm authority for corporate and partnership signers, verify corporate participation in joint ventures, and require satisfactory evidence of agency authority before accepting the signature.
Practical Implications
The signature block must match the legal entity exactly; a mismatch between the offeror name, contract name, and signature form can create avoidable award or administration problems.
Authority matters as much as the signature itself. A properly formatted signature is not enough if the signer lacks authority to bind the entity.
Partnerships and joint ventures require extra diligence because the contracting officer must confirm who the partners are and whether each participant is properly bound.
Corporate contracts should identify the signer’s title and authority clearly; missing titles or unclear delegation can trigger questions about enforceability.
When an agent signs, the contracting officer should insist on written proof of authority rather than assuming the signer can bind the principal.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Individuals . A contract with an individual shall be signed by that individual. A contract with an individual doing business as a firm shall be signed by that individual, and the signature shall be followed by the individual’s typed, stamped, or printed name and the words ", an individual doing business as _________" [ insert name of firm ]. (b) Partnerships . A contract with a partnership shall be signed in the partnership name. Before signing for the Government, the contracting officer shall obtain a list of all partners and ensure that the individual(s) signing for the partnership have authority to bind the partnership. (c) Corporations . A contract with a corporation shall be signed in the corporate name, followed by the word "by" and the signature and title of the person authorized to sign. The contracting officer shall ensure that the person signing for the corporation has authority to bind the corporation. (d) Joint venturers . A contract with joint venturers may involve any combination of individuals, partnerships, or corporations. The contract shall be signed by each participant in the joint venture in the manner prescribed in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section for each type of participant. When a corporation is participating, the contracting officer shall verify that the corporation is authorized to participate in the joint venture. (e) Agents . When an agent is to sign the contract, other than as stated in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, the agent’s authorization to bind the principal must be established by evidence satisfactory to the contracting officer.