Federal Contracting Glossary
SF-33 & SF-1449
Standard solicitation/award cover forms — SF-33 for negotiated and sealed-bid solicitations, SF-1449 for commercial-item acquisitions.
Definition
The Standard Form 33 (Solicitation, Offer and Award) and Standard Form 1449 (Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Products and Commercial Services) are the official cover forms that front many federal solicitations and resulting awards. The SF-33 is used for negotiated procurements and sealed bids on the Uniform Contract Format; the SF-1449 is used for commercial products and services under FAR Part 12.
These forms are more than paperwork. The offeror signs the form to make a binding offer, acknowledges amendments, and fills in pricing and administrative data. An unsigned form, an unacknowledged amendment, or a missing entry can render an otherwise strong offer nonresponsive.
How this affects your proposal
Sign the SF-33/SF-1449 in the correct block and acknowledge every amendment before you submit — an unsigned form or unacknowledged amendment is a classic, avoidable cause of a nonresponsive offer.
Common questions about sf-33 & sf-1449
When is an SF-1449 used instead of an SF-33?
The SF-1449 is the cover form for commercial product and service acquisitions under FAR Part 12. The SF-33 fronts negotiated and sealed-bid solicitations built on the Uniform Contract Format.
Do I have to acknowledge solicitation amendments?
Yes. Failing to acknowledge a material amendment can make your offer nonresponsive, because you have not bound yourself to the amended terms. Acknowledge every amendment by the deadline.
Related terms
Request for Proposal (RFP)
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Evaluation Factors (Section M)
The published factors and subfactors an agency uses to evaluate proposals and select fo…
Contract Line Item (CLIN)
A separately identified, priced item of work in a federal contract, used to organize de…
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