Government Contracting Database

The federal agencies subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulations generally follow a standardized format or pattern in organizing and issuing construction contracts. (See FAR 14.2). The contract package includes Standard Form 1442, “Solicitation, Offer, Award,” which is a government form with entry blocks for project title, contract number, appropriation data, time for receipt of bids, performance period, acknowledgment of amendments, contract price, and, most importantly, the signatures of the contractor, and the contracting officer. This document is included in the solicitation and ultimately becomes the first page of the contract when executed by the contracting officer.

Though all of the entries are important on SF 1442, the contractor should pay particular attention to the performance time in block 11 (to determine whether it begins from the date of award or the date of notice to proceed) and block 19, “Acknowledgment of Amendments.” Failure to properly acknowledge the amendments to the solicitation at the time the bid may be cause for rejection of the bid as nonresponsive. Note also that Block 18 states the requirement that the contractor furnish performance and payment bonds, thereby setting forth an enforceable contract to so furnish the bonds once the document is executed by the contracting officer.

Updated: July 24, 2018