SF 33

FAR 15.204-2 says Section A of a negotiated solicitation is prepared on the SF 33 (or an approved optional form), and sealed bidding uses it the same way. It carries the solicitation number, type, issue date, issuing office, the place and time offers are due, a table of contents for the uniform contract format sections, and the offer and award blocks.

In the offer part the offeror enters its name, address and identifiers, the period its offer stays open for acceptance where asked, the amendments it acknowledges, and the signature of a person authorized to sign. In the award part the contracting officer records the accepted items and amount and signs.

The costly ones are small: an unsigned form, an amendment left unacknowledged, an acceptance period shorter than the solicitation requires, or a company name that does not match the UEI registration. Check the SF 33 last, after every amendment has been read, because amendments often change the due date and the list of acknowledgments.

Commercial buys use the SF 1449 instead, and state and local governments use their own bid forms, which play the same role: a signed offer page that becomes the contract when accepted.