What this form is
Official title: Solicitation, Offer, and Award (Construction, Alteration, or Repair)
Current edition: Standard Form 1442 (REV. 12/2022)
Prescribed by: GSA — FAR 53.236-1(d); use at FAR 36.701(a)
Official download: https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/SF1442-22.pdf
The construction counterpart of the SF 33. Front banner: IMPORTANT — The 'offer' section on the reverse must be fully completed by offeror.
In sealed bidding, "offer" means "bid".
The blocks, one by one
| Block | Label on the form | Who fills it in, and with what |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | SOLICITATION NUMBER / TYPE OF SOLICITATION (IFB / RFP) / DATE ISSUED | Government |
| 4–6 | CONTRACT NUMBER / REQUISITION NUMBER / PROJECT NUMBER | Government |
| 7/8 | ISSUED BY / ADDRESS OFFER TO | Government |
| 9 | FOR INFORMATION CALL: NAME / TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT CALLS) | Government |
| 10 | THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK DESCRIBED IN THESE DOCUMENTS (Title, identifying number, date) | Government — the scope |
| 11 | "The contractor shall begin performance within ___ calendar days and complete it within ___ calendar days after receiving [award] [notice to proceed]. This performance period is [mandatory] [negotiable]." | Government — read whether the clock starts at award or NTP |
| 12a/12b | THE CONTRACTOR MUST FURNISH ANY REQUIRED PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS? YES/NO + within how many CALENDAR DAYS | Government — Miller Act bonds and their deadline |
| 13 | ADDITIONAL SOLICITATION REQUIREMENTS: a. sealed offers, copies, due date/time, public opening, envelope marking; b. offer guarantee [is] [is not] required; c. offers subject to work requirements and incorporated provisions/clauses; d. minimum days for Government acceptance (offers providing less "will not be considered and will be rejected") | Government — 13b (bid guarantee) and 13d (minimum acceptance period) are the traps |
| 14–16 | NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR (+ CODE, FACILITY CODE) / TELEPHONE / REMITTANCE ADDRESS (if different) | Offeror |
| 17 | "The offeror agrees to perform the work required at the prices specified below … if this offer is accepted by the Government in writing within ___ calendar days after the date offers are due. (Insert any number equal to or greater than the minimum requirement stated in Item 13d. Failure to insert any number means the offeror accepts the minimum in Item 13d.)" + AMOUNTS | Offeror — acceptance period + your price; blank = you accept the 13d minimum |
| 18 | "The offeror agrees to furnish any required performance and payment bonds." | Offeror — printed agreement, part of your offer |
| 19 | ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS — AMENDMENT NUMBER / DATE | Offeror — every amendment, or risk nonresponsiveness |
| 20a/b/c | NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER / SIGNATURE / OFFER DATE | Offeror |
| 21–23 | ITEMS ACCEPTED / AMOUNT / ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA | Government — award section |
| 24/25 | SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN ___ ITEM / OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION authority | Government |
| 26/27 | ADMINISTERED BY / PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY | Government |
| 28 | NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT (Contractor is required to sign this document and return ___ copies to issuing office.) | Government checks; Contractor signs — bilateral |
| 29 | AWARD (Contractor is not required to sign this document.) — "…This award consummates the contract, which consists of (a) the Government solicitation and your offer, and (b) this contract award. No further contractual document is necessary." | Government — unilateral award |
| 30a/b/c | NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTOR OR PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN / SIGNATURE / DATE | Contractor — when block 28 applies |
| 31a/b/c | NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — BY / DATE | Government |
Common mistakes
- The block 17 backwards-trap. Inserting an acceptance period SHORTER than the item 13d minimum gets the offer rejected — while leaving it blank is safe (the form says blank means you accept the 13d minimum). Offerors regularly get this exactly backwards.
- Missing bid guarantee. When item 13b requires an offer guarantee, failure to furnish it with a sealed bid generally requires rejection (FAR 28.101-4).
- An incomplete reverse side. The front banner demands the full offer section (14–20); unsigned 20b blocks and unacknowledged amendments in block 19 are the recurring killers (nonresponsiveness per FAR 14.405).
FAQ
What happens if I leave block 17 of the SF 1442 blank?
Per the form's own text, failure to insert a number means you accept the minimum acceptance period stated in item 13d — leaving it blank is safe; inserting a number below the 13d minimum gets the offer rejected.
When do performance and payment bonds come due on an SF 1442 award?
Item 12 states whether bonds are required and 12b gives the number of calendar days after award to furnish them; block 18 records your agreement to do so.