FAR 53.214—Sealed bidding.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 53.214 identifies the standard forms used in sealed bidding and tells contracting personnel which form to use for each step of the process. It covers award and contract forms, solicitation and amendment forms, bid-recording forms, an offer label, and a continuation sheet, while expressly excluding construction and architect-engineer services from this prescription. In practice, this section is a form-selection rule: it helps contracting officers and procurement staff choose the correct Standard Form or Optional Form for issuing invitations for bids, amending them, receiving and recording bids, and making award. It also ties each form to the procedures in FAR Part 14, so users must read this section together with the cited FAR provisions on sealed bidding. The practical significance is that using the wrong form, or using a form outside its permitted purpose, can create administrative errors, confusion in bid handling, or award documentation problems.
Key Rules
Sealed-bid forms only
This section prescribes forms for contracting by sealed bidding, but not for construction or architect-engineering services. Users must therefore confirm the procurement method and subject matter before relying on these forms.
SF 26 for award
SF 26, Award/Contract, is used to award sealed-bid contracts for supplies or services when bids were obtained on SF 33 as allowed by FAR 14.408-1(d)(1). Block 18 on SF 26 may be used only in sealed-bid procurements.
SF 30 for bid amendments
SF 30, Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract, is the required form for amending invitations for bids under FAR 14.208(a). It is the standard vehicle for changing IFB terms before bid opening.
SF 33 for solicitation and award
SF 33, Solicitation, Offer and Award, is used to solicit bids for supplies or services and to award the resulting contract unless award is made on SF 26. Its use is tied to FAR 14.201-2(a)(1).
SF 1447 for simplified contract format
SF 1447, Solicitation/Contract, is used to solicit supplies or services and award the resulting contract, and it must be used when the simplified contract format applies under FAR 14.201-9. Agencies may also use it instead of SF 26 or SF 33 in other sealed-bid solicitations and awards.
Bid abstract forms
SF 1409, Abstract of Offers, and SF 1410, Abstract of Offers-Continuation, are used to record bids as required by FAR 14.403(a). These forms support bid tabulation and the official record of offers received.
Optional handling and continuation forms
OF 17, Offer Label, may be furnished with each IFB to help identify and handle bids under FAR 14.202-3(b). OF 336, Continuation Sheet, may be used as a continuation sheet in solicitations under FAR 14.201-2(b).
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Select and use the correct prescribed form for the procurement stage and method, ensure amendments to IFBs are issued on SF 30, use SF 26 or SF 33 or SF 1447 as appropriate for solicitation and award, and avoid using forms outside their permitted contexts. The contracting officer must also ensure bid records are properly documented on SF 1409 and SF 1410 when required.
Contracting Activity / Procurement Staff
Prepare, route, and maintain the prescribed forms correctly; support bid receipt, abstracting, and file documentation; and follow any agency-specific instructions for SF 1447 or other forms. Staff must also ensure continuation sheets and offer labels are used consistently with local procedures and FAR requirements.
Agency
Issue any additional detailed instructions for use of SF 1447 where permitted, and ensure internal procedures align with the FAR-prescribed uses of the listed forms. Agencies must not override the basic prescribed purposes of the forms.
Contractor / Bidder
Use the solicitation package as issued, pay attention to the form structure and any continuation sheets or labels provided, and submit bids in the format and manner required by the IFB. Bidders should also recognize that amendments issued on SF 30 may change bid requirements or deadlines.
Practical Implications
Using the wrong form can create avoidable administrative problems, especially if the solicitation, amendment, or award document does not match the FAR-prescribed purpose.
SF 26 block 18 is limited to sealed-bid procurements, so using it elsewhere can create a compliance issue or confusion about the nature of the award.
SF 30 is the standard amendment vehicle for IFBs, so changes to an invitation should not be made informally or on the wrong form.
SF 1409 and SF 1410 matter for the official bid record; incomplete or sloppy abstracting can complicate evaluation, award documentation, and later protests or audits.
Agencies may add instructions for SF 1447, but those instructions must fit within the FAR framework and should not conflict with the form’s prescribed use.
Official Regulatory Text
The following forms are prescribed for use in contracting by sealed bidding (except for construction and architect-engineer services): (a) SF 26 (Rev. 12/2022), Award/Contract. SF 26 is prescribed for use in awarding sealed bid contracts for supplies or services in which bids were obtained on SF 33 , Solicitation, Offer and Award, as specified in 14.408-1 (d)(1). Block 18 may only be used for sealed-bid procurements. (b) SF 30 , Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract . SF 30 , prescribed in 53.243 , shall be used in amending invitations for bids, as specified in 14.208 (a). (c) SF 33 (Rev. 12/2022), Solicitation, Offer and Award . SF 33 is prescribed for use in soliciting bids for supplies or services and for awarding the contracts that result from the bids, as specified in 14.201-2 (a)(1), unless award is accomplished by SF 26 . (d) SF 1447 (Rev. 12/2022), Solicitation/Contract. SF 1447 is prescribed for use in soliciting supplies or services and for awarding contracts that result from the bids. It shall be used when the simplified contract format is used (see 14.201-9 ) and may be used in place of the SF 26 or SF 33 with other solicitations and awards. Agencies may prescribe additional detailed instructions for use of the form. (e) [Reserved] (f) SF 1409 (Rev. 9/88), Abstract of Offers, and SF 1410 (9/88), Abstract of Offers-Continuation . SF 1409 and SF 1410 are prescribed for use in recording bids, as specified in 14.403 (a). (g) OF 17 (Rev. 12/93), Offer Label . OF 17 may be furnished with each invitation for bids to facilitate identification and handling of bids, as specified in 14.202-3 (b). (h) OF 336 (Rev.3/86), Continuation Sheet . OF 336 may be used as a continuation sheet in solicitations, as specified in 14.201-2 (b).