What this form is
Official title: Solicitation, Offer, and Award
Current edition: Standard Form 33 (REV. 12/2022)
Prescribed by: GSA — FAR 53.214(c); the cover form for sealed bids (IFB) and many negotiated (RFP) solicitations in Uniform Contract Format
Official download: https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/SF33-22.pdf
The form's own note: In sealed bid solicitations 'offer' and 'offeror' mean 'bid' and 'bidder'.
Award can be made on this form, on an SF 26, or by other authorized written notice — that too is printed on the form.
The blocks, one by one
| Block | Label on the form | Who fills it in, and with what |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DPAS RATED ORDER checkbox + RATING (+ PAGE OF PAGES) | Government |
| 2 | CONTRACT NUMBER | Government — at award |
| 3 | SOLICITATION NUMBER | Government |
| 4 | TYPE OF SOLICITATION — SEALED BID (IFB) / NEGOTIATED (RFP) | Government — decides which rulebook (FAR 14 vs 15) applies to your offer |
| 5 | DATE ISSUED | Government |
| 6 | REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER | Government |
| 7 | ISSUED BY / CODE | Government |
| 8 | ADDRESS OFFER TO (If other than item 7) | Government — send the offer HERE, not to block 7, when filled |
| 9 | Sealed offers in original and ___ copies … until ___ local time (Hour) (Date) + CAUTION — LATE Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals: See … 52.214-7 or 52.215-1 | Government — copies required and the deadline (the form's own "furnishings" typo lives here) |
| 10 | FOR INFORMATION CALL: NAME / TELEPHONE / EMAIL ADDRESS | Government |
| 11 | TABLE OF CONTENTS — the Uniform Contract Format: Part I The Schedule (Sections A–H), Part II Contract Clauses (I), Part III Documents/Exhibits/Attachments (J), Part IV Representations and Instructions (K, L, M) | Government — the map of the whole solicitation; Section L tells you how to write your offer, Section M how it will be judged |
| 12 | "…the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within ___ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted by the offeror)…" | Offeror — your offer-acceptance period; the form notes item 12 does not apply when 52.214-16 (minimum bid acceptance period) is in the solicitation |
| 13 | DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT (10 / 20 / 30 / ___ CALENDAR DAYS %) | Offeror |
| 14 | ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS — AMENDMENT NUMBER / DATE | Offeror — list every amendment issued, or risk nonresponsiveness |
| 15A/B/C | NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR (CODE, FACILITY) / TELEPHONE / CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS IS DIFFERENT | Offeror |
| 16 | NAME AND THE TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER | Offeror — as printed on the form, quirk included |
| 17 | SIGNATURE | Offeror |
| 18 | OFFER DATE | Offeror |
| 19 | ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED | Government — award section begins here |
| 20 | AMOUNT | Government |
| 21 | ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION | Government |
| 22 | AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION — 10 U.S.C. 3204(a) / 41 U.S.C. 3304(a) | Government |
| 23 | SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN ___ ITEM | Government |
| 24 | ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7) | Government |
| 25 | PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY / CODE | Government |
| 26–28 | NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Signature) / AWARD DATE | Government |
Common mistakes
- An unsigned block 17. The form banner says the offer section
Must be fully completed by offeror
; in sealed bidding an unsigned bid is rejected as nonresponsive (FAR 14.301 / 14.404-2). - Block 12 games. Inserting an acceptance period shorter than a stated minimum makes the bid nonresponsive — and when 52.214-16 applies, the form's own note says item 12 doesn't apply at all.
- Missing amendments in block 14. Failure to acknowledge a material amendment renders the bid nonresponsive; FAR 14.405 lets the government waive it only when immaterial.
FAQ
What is the default offer acceptance period on the SF 33?
60 calendar days, unless the offeror inserts a different period in block 12 — as the block's own text states.
What is the SF 33 used for?
It is the solicitation/offer/award cover form for sealed bids (IFB) and many negotiated (RFP) procurements in Uniform Contract Format, prescribed at FAR 53.214(c).