Overview
FAR Subpart 43.3 prescribes the specific forms required for amending solicitations and modifying contracts. It establishes the Standard Form 30 (SF 30) as the primary vehicle for nearly all administrative, unilateral, and bilateral changes to a federal contract.
Key Rules
- Mandatory Use of SF 30: The SF 30 must be used for:
- Any amendment to a solicitation.
- Change orders issued under the contract's "Changes" clause.
- Unilateral modifications authorized by contract clauses (without contractor consent).
- Administrative changes (e.g., correcting typos, changing paying offices, or updating accounting/appropriation data).
- Supplemental agreements (bilateral modifications).
- Funding changes (adding, removing, or reinstating funds).
- Optional Use of SF 30: The form is permitted, but not required, for petroleum price adjustments (EPA), termination notices, and purchase order modifications.
- Price Estimate Confidentiality: If a change is expected to result in a price adjustment, the government’s estimated amount must not be shown on the copies of the SF 30 provided to the contractor.
- Continuation Sheets: If the SF 30 requires more space, the Optional Form 336 (OF 336) or plain paper should be used.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers (COs): Responsible for determining the correct type of modification (unilateral vs. bilateral) and properly executing the SF 30. They must ensure that internal government price estimates are redacted from the contractor's copy to protect the government's negotiating position.
- Contract Specialists/Administrative Staff: Responsible for accurately entering administrative data, such as changes to accounting and appropriation lines (long-line accounting), which are often the most common reasons for SF 30 issuance.
- Contractors: Responsible for reviewing the SF 30 for accuracy and, in the case of supplemental agreements, signing the form to indicate mutual agreement.
Practical Implications
In the real world of government contracting, the SF 30 is the "Swiss Army Knife" of contract administration. Because it is used for everything from simple typos to multi-million dollar scope changes, it serves as the definitive legal trail for a contract’s history.
For contractors, receiving an SF 30 "Administrative Change" is usually routine (e.g., the government changed its internal billing code). However, receiving an SF 30 "Change Order" is a critical event that may trigger the need for a Request for Equitable Adjustment (REA) or a claim. The rule regarding the concealment of the government's price estimate is particularly important during negotiations; it prevents the contractor from knowing the government's "ceiling" or "target" price before the contractor submits their own proposal for the change.