Overview
FAR 12.303 establishes a standardized, streamlined format for solicitations and contracts involving commercial products and commercial services. It mandates the use of Standard Form (SF) 1449 and specific commercial-item-specific clauses to ensure consistency and simplicity in federal commercial acquisitions.
Key Rules
- Standard Form (SF) 1449: This form is the required face page for commercial solicitations and contracts to the maximum extent practicable.
- Continuation Blocks: Specific data points such as incentive subcontracting percentages (Block 10), remittance addresses (Block 18B), line item numbers (Block 19), and accounting data (Block 25) must be organized as continuations of the SF 1449.
- Mandatory Clauses: The contract must incorporate FAR 52.212-4 (Terms and Conditions) and FAR 52.212-5 (Statutory/Executive Order requirements). FAR 52.212-4 may be incorporated by reference.
- Solicitation Provisions: Commercial solicitations must include FAR 52.212-1 (Instructions to Offerors), FAR 52.212-2 (Evaluation Factors), and FAR 52.212-3 (Offeror Representations and Certifications).
- Addenda: Contracting officers are authorized to include addenda to 52.212-1 and 52.212-4 to tailor the acquisition to specific agency needs or commercial practices.
Practical Implications
- Deviation from UCF: This format replaces the more complex Uniform Contract Format (UCF) typically used in negotiated procurements under FAR Part 15, making the document more recognizable to commercial vendors.
- Efficiency for Industry: By standardizing where instructions, evaluation criteria, and terms are located, the government reduces the administrative burden on commercial entities bidding for federal work.