Overview
This section establishes strict prohibitions against agencies modifying standard forms or using unauthorized alternatives, ensuring nationwide consistency in federal procurement documentation.
Key Rules
- No Alterations: Agencies are expressly forbidden from changing or modifying any standard form prescribed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
- Mandatory Usage: Agencies must use the prescribed standard form for its designated purpose and cannot substitute it with a different form.
- Prior Approval Required: Any deviation or use of an alternative form requires an officially granted exception obtained in advance.
Practical Implications
- Uniformity: Contractors can expect consistent documentation (such as the SF 30 or SF 1449) across different federal agencies, reducing administrative burden and legal ambiguity.
- Compliance: Contracting officers lack the unilateral authority to create "custom" versions of standard forms, which prevents agencies from inserting unauthorized or non-standard clauses directly into the form structure.