FAR 53.228—Bonds and insurance.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 53.228 identifies the standard forms used to satisfy bond and insurance requirements under FAR part 28. In practical terms, this section is a form-prescription rule: it tells contracting officers, contractors, and sureties which government forms to use for bid bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds, continuation sheets, affidavits of individual surety, annual bid and performance bonds, reinsurance agreements, consent of surety, consent of surety with increased penalty, payment and performance bonds for other than construction contracts, and release of personal property from escrow. It also points users to the relevant FAR 28 coverage for when each form applies, and it notes that the forms are available through the GSA Forms Library. The section further states that all listed forms may be locally reproduced except SF 25B, which is not authorized for local reproduction. In practice, this section matters because bond and insurance compliance is often a condition of award, contract administration, or release of retained property, and using the wrong form or version can delay award, invalidate a submission, or create enforceability problems. It is especially important for construction contracting and other acquisitions where surety, reinsurance, or escrow arrangements are required.
Key Rules
Use prescribed standard forms
When FAR part 28 requires a bond- or insurance-related document, the prescribed standard form must be used. The section lists the exact forms for bid, performance, payment, surety, reinsurance, and escrow-related purposes.
Follow the cited FAR provisions
Each form is tied to a specific FAR 28 citation, which tells the user when the form applies and how it must be completed or accepted. The form list in this section does not stand alone; it works together with part 28 requirements.
Local reproduction generally allowed
The listed forms may be locally reproduced, which means agencies and contractors can reproduce them for use, provided they preserve the required content and format. SF 25B is the exception and is not authorized for local reproduction.
Use current form revisions
The section identifies revision dates for each form, signaling that users should use the current prescribed version or the version specified by the regulation. Using an outdated form can create compliance issues or processing delays.
GSA Forms Library source
The forms are available from the GSA Forms Library, which is the official source referenced here. Users should obtain forms from that source or another official government source to ensure they are using the correct version.
Covers surety and escrow documents
Beyond the basic bid, performance, and payment bonds, the section also covers individual surety affidavits, annual bonds, reinsurance agreements, consent of surety forms, and release of personal property from escrow. This makes the section relevant to both standard construction bonding and more specialized surety arrangements.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Identify when FAR part 28 requires a bond, insurance-related document, surety consent, reinsurance agreement, or escrow release form, and ensure the correct prescribed form is used. The contracting officer must also verify that the form matches the applicable FAR citation and that any required version or completion requirements are satisfied before award or release actions.
Contractor
Submit the correct prescribed form when the solicitation or contract requires a bond, surety-related document, or escrow release. The contractor must use the proper form, complete it accurately, and ensure it is current and acceptable under the applicable FAR part 28 requirement.
Surety / Individual Surety
Provide the required bond, consent, affidavit, or reinsurance-related documentation on the prescribed form when supporting a contractor’s obligation. The surety must ensure the document is properly executed and consistent with the underlying bond requirement.
Agency / Contract Administration Staff
Make the prescribed forms available, reproduce them locally when permitted, and ensure the correct form versions are used in procurement and administration files. Staff should also route users to the GSA Forms Library or other official source when needed.
Practical Implications
Using the wrong bond form can delay award or make a bond unacceptable, especially in construction procurements where bid, performance, and payment bonds are mandatory.
Because the section points to FAR part 28, users must read this provision together with the substantive bonding rules; the form list alone does not tell you when a bond is required or what amount is needed.
Outdated forms are a common problem. The revision date matters, and contracting personnel should confirm they are using the current prescribed version before acceptance.
SF 25B is the only listed form not authorized for local reproduction, so agencies should not copy or recreate it locally the way they may with the other forms.
Specialty forms such as SF 28, SF 273, SF 274, SF 275, SF 1414, SF 1415, SF 1416, SF 1418, and OF 91 are easy to overlook, but they are important when individual surety, reinsurance, increased penalty, or escrow release issues arise.
Official Regulatory Text
The following standard forms are prescribed for use for bond and insurance requirements, as specified in part 28 . These forms can be found at the GSA Forms Library at http://www.gsa.gov/forms . All the following forms are authorized for local reproduction, except for SF 25 B. (a) SF 24 (Rev. 8/2016) Bid Bond . (See 28.106-1 .) (b) SF 25 (Rev. 8/2016) Performance Bond . (See 28.106-1 (b).) (c) SF 25A (Rev. 8/2016) Payment Bond . (See 28.106-1 (c).) (d) SF 25B (For Standard Forms 24 , 25 , and 25A ). (Rev.10/1983), Continuation Sheet Forms 24 , 25 , and 25A (See 28.106-1 (c).) (e) SF 28 (Rev. Feb 2021) Affidavit of Individual Surety . (See 28.106-1 (e) and 28.203-1 (b)(3).) (f) SF 34 (Rev. 8/2016), Annual Bid Bond . (See 28.106-1 (f).) (g) SF 35 (Rev. 8/2016), Annual Performance Bond . (See 28.106-1 .) (h) SF 273 (Rev. 4/2013) Reinsurance Agreement for a Bond statute Performance Bond . (See 28.106-1 (h) and 28.202 (a)(4).) (i) SF 274 (Rev. 4/2013) Reinsurance Agreement for a Bond statute Payment Bond . (See 28.106-1 (i) and 28.202 (a)(4).) (j) SF 275 (Rev. 10/98) Reinsurance Agreement in Favor of the United States . (See 28.106-1 (j) and 28.202 (a)(4).) (k) SF 1414 (Rev. 10/93), Consent of Surety . (l) SF 1415 (Rev. 7/93), Consent of Surety and Increase of Penalty . (See 28.106-1 (l).) (m) SF 1416 (Rev. 10/98) Payment Bond for Other than Construction Contracts . (See 28.106-1 (m).) (n) SF 1418 (Rev. 2/99) Performance Bond For Other Than Construction Contracts . (See 28.106-1 (n).) (o) OF 91 (1/90Ed.), Release of Personal Property from Escrow . (See 28.106-1 (o) and 28.203-3 (a).)