FAR 52.214-18—Preparation of Bids-Construction.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.214-18, Preparation of Bids—Construction, tells bidders how to prepare and submit sealed bids for construction procurements. It covers the required bid format, including use of the Government-furnished bid forms or exact copies, the requirement for a manual signature, and the need to initial each erasure or change on any bid form. It also explains the pricing structures a solicitation may use, such as lump-sum pricing, alternate prices, unit prices for construction quantities, or combinations of those methods. The provision further addresses how bidders must respond when a solicitation requires pricing all items versus when partial bidding is allowed, including the use of the words “no bid” for omitted items. Finally, it states that alternate bids are only eligible for consideration when the solicitation expressly authorizes them. In practice, this provision is meant to protect bid integrity, ensure bids are comparable, and reduce disputes over whether a bid is responsive.
Key Rules
Use the required bid form
Bids must be submitted on the Government-furnished forms or exact copies of those forms. This ensures the bid can be evaluated consistently and that all required pricing and certification information is captured.
Manual signature required
The bid must be manually signed by the person authorized to bind the bidder. Any erasure or change on a bid form must be initialed by that signer, which helps preserve the integrity of the bid and shows the bidder approved the correction.
Multiple pricing methods allowed
The solicitation may require or permit pricing on a lump-sum basis, alternate prices, unit prices for construction items, or a combination of these methods. Bidders must follow the pricing structure stated in the solicitation exactly.
Bid all required items
If the solicitation requires bids on all items, failing to price every item makes the bid nonresponsive and disqualifies it. If all items are not required, bidders should mark unpriced items as “no bid” rather than leaving them blank.
Alternates only if authorized
Alternate bids may be submitted only when the solicitation specifically authorizes them. An unauthorized alternate bid is not to be considered, even if it might otherwise appear advantageous.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Provide the proper bid form, clearly state whether all items must be priced, identify any authorized alternate bids, and evaluate bids for responsiveness based on the solicitation’s stated pricing and submission requirements.
Bidder/Contractor
Prepare the bid on the required form or an exact copy, ensure it is manually signed, initial every erasure or change, price the items as required, insert “no bid” where appropriate, and avoid submitting unauthorized alternates.
Agency/Procuring Activity
Structure the solicitation so the bid form and pricing instructions are clear, consistent, and complete, and ensure the form supports the intended evaluation method for lump-sum, unit-price, alternate, or combined pricing.
Practical Implications
A bid can be rejected for a purely procedural mistake, such as using the wrong form, missing a manual signature, or failing to initial a correction.
Leaving a required line item blank can make a construction bid nonresponsive if the solicitation requires all items to be priced.
Bidders should not assume alternates are acceptable just because they are common in construction; they must be expressly authorized in the solicitation.
Contracting officers should check that the solicitation’s bid schedule matches the intended evaluation approach, especially when combining lump-sum and unit-price items.
Both sides should treat erasures and handwritten changes carefully, because uninitialed changes can create questions about whether the bid reflects the bidder’s actual intent.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 14.201-6 (l) , insert the following provision: Preparation of Bids-Construction (Apr 1984) (a) Bids must be- (1) Submitted on the forms furnished by the Government or on copies of those forms, and (2) Manually signed. The person signing a bid must initial each erasure or change appearing on any bid form. (b) The bid form may require bidders to submit bid prices for one or more items on various bases, including- (1) Lump sum bidding; (2) Alternate prices; (3) Units of construction; or (4) Any combination of paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(3) of this provision. (c) If the solicitation requires bidding on all items, failure to do so will disqualify the bid. If bidding on all items is not required, bidders should insert the words "no bid" in the space provided for any item on which no price is submitted. (d) Alternate bids will not be considered unless this solicitation authorizes their submission. (End of provision)