What this form is
Official title: Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Products and Commercial Services
Current edition: Standard Form 1449 (REV. 11/2021)
Prescribed by: GSA — FAR 53.212; use prescribed at FAR 12.204
Official download: https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/SF1449-21.pdf
This is the workhorse of commercial federal buying: solicitation, offer, award, and order can all happen on this single two-page form. The form prints its own instruction across the top: OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, AND 30.
Everything else belongs to the government.
The blocks, one by one
| Block | Label on the form | Who fills it in, and with what |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | REQUISITION NUMBER | Government — internal purchase-request number |
| 2 | CONTRACT NUMBER | Government — assigned at award |
| 3 | AWARD/EFFECTIVE DATE | Government — at award |
| 4 | ORDER NUMBER | Government — when used as a task/delivery order |
| 5 | SOLICITATION NUMBER | Government |
| 6 | SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE | Government |
| 7a/7b | FOR SOLICITATION INFORMATION CALL: NAME / TELEPHONE NUMBER (No collect calls) | Government — your point of contact for questions |
| 8 | OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIME | Government — the deadline |
| 9 | ISSUED BY / CODE | Government — issuing office |
| 10 | THIS ACQUISITION IS — UNRESTRICTED OR SET ASIDE: ___% FOR: small business / HUBZone / SDVOSB / WOSB / EDWOSB / 8(a), plus NAICS and SIZE STANDARD | Government — read this block first: it tells you whether you're eligible and which size standard applies |
| 11 | DELIVERY FOR FREE ON BOARD (FOB) DESTINATION UNLESS BLOCK IS MARKED — SEE SCHEDULE | Government |
| 12 | DISCOUNT TERMS | Offeror — prompt-payment discount you offer (may be none) |
| 13a/13b | THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700) / RATING | Government — defense-priority rating (DO-/DX-) |
| 14 | METHOD OF SOLICITATION — RFQ / IFB / RFP | Government |
| 15 | DELIVER TO / CODE | Government |
| 16 | ADMINISTERED BY / CODE | Government |
| 17a | CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR (CODE, FACILITY CODE, TELEPHONE NUMBER) | Offeror — your legal name, address, and codes (CAGE/UEI as directed) |
| 17b | CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER | Offeror |
| 18a/18b | PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY / SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW IS CHECKED — SEE ADDENDUM | Government — where your invoices actually go |
| 19–22 | ITEM NUMBER / SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES / QUANTITY / UNIT | Government — the contract line items (CLINs) |
| 23 | UNIT PRICE | Offeror — your price per unit, every line you're quoting |
| 24 | AMOUNT | Offeror — extended price (quantity × unit price) |
| 25 | ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA | Government |
| 26 | TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Government Use Only) | Government |
| 27a | SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED | Government — the clause skeleton of every commercial deal: see our pages on 52.212-3, 52.212-4, 52.212-5 |
| 27b | CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED | Government — award-stage version of 27a |
| 28 | CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN ___ COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE… | Government checks this when a bilateral signature is required |
| 29 | AWARD OF CONTRACT: REFERENCE ___ OFFER DATED ___ … IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS: | Government — unilateral acceptance of your offer (no contractor signature needed) |
| 30a/b/c | SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR / NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER / DATE SIGNED | Offeror — the signature that makes it an offer |
| 31a/b/c | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER) / NAME / DATE | Government — the contracting officer |
The back page (blocks 32–42) is government receiving and payment processing — inspection/acceptance certification (32a–g), ship and voucher numbers, and payment records. Offerors never touch it.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring the form's own NOTE. The five offeror blocks are 12, 17, 23, 24, and 30 — an unsigned block 30a, or missing unit prices in 23/24, is the classic fatal defect. The requirement is printed on the form itself.
- Treating block 27a as boilerplate. It attaches 52.212-3 (your representations and certifications) — submitting without completed reps, or with stale SAM reps, invites rejection or delay under 52.212-1(b)'s submission instructions.
- Confusing block 28 with block 29. Block 28 means the government wants your signature back (bilateral); block 29 is the government accepting your offer unilaterally. Waiting for a countersigned copy that will never come — or failing to return signed copies when 28 is checked — both stall awards.
FAQ
Which blocks of the SF 1449 does the offeror complete?
Blocks 12 (discount terms), 17 (offeror name/address/codes), 23 (unit price), 24 (amount), and 30 (signature block) — per the note printed on the form itself.
What clauses does the SF 1449 incorporate?
Block 27a incorporates FAR 52.212-1 and 52.212-4 by reference and attaches 52.212-3 and 52.212-5; at award, block 27b carries 52.212-4 and 52.212-5.
Is the SF 1449 a solicitation or a contract?
Either or both — it is designed so solicitation, offer, and award can all occur on the same form (FAR 12.204 prescribes it for commercial acquisitions).