FAR 52.247-20—Estimated Quantities or Weights for Evaluation of Offers.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.247-20 is a solicitation provision used in transportation and transportation-related service procurements when the government does not know the actual shipment quantities or weights between each origin and destination pair. It tells offerors and evaluators that the listed estimated quantities or weights will be used only to compare offers for award, not as a commitment of actual shipment volume. The provision is tied to the transportation pricing structure because rates often depend on origin-destination lanes, shipment weight, and other movement assumptions. In practice, this clause helps the government evaluate competing offers on a common basis when future traffic is uncertain, while also making clear that the estimates are for evaluation only and do not guarantee business. It is especially important in solicitations where pricing must be normalized across multiple lanes or destinations so the agency can determine the most advantageous offer. The clause also signals to contractors that they should price based on the stated estimates, but understand that actual shipments may differ after award.
Key Rules
Use only for evaluation
The estimated quantities or weights are to be used solely for evaluating offers. They are not a promise of actual shipment volume and do not create a requirement that the government ship those amounts.
Apply when traffic is unknown
This provision is used in transportation or transportation-related service solicitations when the quantities or weights between each origin and destination are not known. The solicitation must state an estimated quantity or weight for each origin-destination pair.
Evaluate on stated estimates
Offer evaluation must be based on the listed estimated quantities or weights for each lane. This allows the government to compare prices on a consistent basis even though actual future shipments are uncertain.
List each origin and destination
The solicitation must identify the origin, destination, and estimated quantity or weight for each pair. The estimates must be specific enough to support pricing and evaluation for each movement lane.
No other purpose
The clause expressly limits the use of the estimates to evaluation and for no other purpose. Agencies should not treat the estimates as minimums, maximums, or guaranteed traffic commitments unless another contract term says otherwise.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Include the provision in the solicitation when the requirements in FAR 47.207-6(c)(6) are met, provide estimated quantities or weights for each origin-destination pair, and ensure offers are evaluated using those estimates only for award purposes.
Agency/Requirement Owner
Develop reasonable estimated quantities or weights for each shipment lane and provide enough information for offerors to price the transportation or transportation-related services accurately.
Offeror/Contractor
Review the estimated quantities or weights in the solicitation, use them to prepare pricing for each origin-destination pair, and understand that the estimates are for evaluation only and do not guarantee actual shipment volume.
Source Selection/Evaluation Team
Apply the solicitation’s stated estimates consistently across all offers when calculating evaluated prices or comparing offers, and avoid using the estimates for any purpose beyond evaluation.
Practical Implications
This clause matters most when the government cannot predict actual shipment volumes but still needs a fair way to compare transportation prices across lanes.
A common pitfall is treating the estimates like a guaranteed workload; contractors should not assume the government will ship the stated amounts unless the contract says so.
Another risk is inconsistent evaluation if the agency uses different assumptions than those stated in the solicitation; evaluators must stick to the listed estimates.
Offerors should pay close attention to each origin-destination pair because a pricing error on one lane can materially affect the evaluated offer.
Contracting officers should make sure the estimates are realistic enough to support competition, but also clearly labeled as evaluation-only to avoid disputes over implied commitments.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 47.207-6 (c)(6) , insert the following provision in solicitations for transportation or for transportation-related services when quantities or weights of shipments between each origin and destination are not known, stating estimated quantity or weight for each origin/destination pair: Estimated Quantities or Weights for Evaluation of Offers (Apr 1984) For the purpose of evaluating offers, and for no other purpose, the following estimated quantities or weights will be considered as the quantities or weights to be shipped between each origin and destination listed: Origin Destination Estimated Quantity or Weight ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ (End of clause)