Overview
FAR 53.243 prescribes Standard Form (SF) 30 as the mandatory instrument for amending solicitations and modifying various types of government contracts and orders. It specifically clarifies how to determine the "effective date" for modifications related to contract terminations for convenience.
Key Rules
- Standardized Usage: SF 30 is the required form for amending Invitations for Bids (IFBs), amending solicitations for negotiated contracts, and modifying purchase orders, delivery orders, and standard contracts.
- Termination Effective Dates:
- For a modification confirming a notice of termination for convenience, the effective date must match the date of the initial notice.
- For a modification confirming a Termination Contracting Officer’s (TCO) letter determination regarding a settlement amount, the effective date must match the date of that original letter determination.
- Broad Applicability: The form is integrated with multiple parts of the FAR, including Part 13 (Simplified Acquisition), Part 14 (Sealed Bidding), Part 15 (Contracting by Negotiation), and Part 49 (Termination of Contracts).
Practical Implications
- Uniformity in Changes: SF 30 serves as the universal "all-purpose" document for any formal change to a procurement action, ensuring that contractors and the government have a consistent legal record of amendments and modifications.
- Accounting and Legal Alignment: By requiring back-dated effective dates for termination-related modifications, the regulation ensures that the legal record aligns with the actual date work stopped or settlement amounts were determined, which is critical for cost auditing and final payment processing.