Overview
FAR 13.307 prescribes the specific standard (SF) and optional (OF) forms to be used for solicitations, orders, and modifications within simplified acquisition procedures. It distinguishes between forms used for commercial products/services versus other-than-commercial requirements.
Key Rules
- Commercial Items: The SF 1449 (Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Products and Commercial Services) is the required form for commercial acquisitions per FAR 12.204.
- Non-Commercial Solicitations: Agencies may use the SF 1449, SF 18 (Request for Quotations), or agency-specific forms, except when quotations are solicited orally or electronically.
- Ordering and Multipurpose Use: The SF 1449 and OF 347 (Order for Supplies or Services) are primary multipurpose forms used for negotiated purchases, delivery orders, inspection reports, and invoices.
- Modifications: The SF 30 (Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract) is the standard form for modifying purchase orders, though agency-specific forms may be used if prescribed.
- Specialized Forms:
- SF 44: A pocket-sized form used for specific on-the-spot purchases.
- SF 1165: Used for cash receipts when utilizing imprest funds or third-party drafts.
- OF 336/348: Authorized for use as continuation sheets when additional space is required for schedules or clauses.
Practical Implications
- Standardization: While standard forms like the SF 1449 provide a uniform look for government contracts, contractors must remain adaptable to "agency-specific" automated formats that are permitted as long as they conform to the standard forms.
- Administrative Efficiency: The use of multipurpose forms (like the OF 347) streamlines the process by allowing one document to serve as the order, the receiving report, and the basis for the invoice.