Amendments to Solicitation: Standard Form 30

When filing out Standard Form 30 in order to satisfy an Invitation For Bid (IFB), the final section is filled out by the government.

When there is a need to change or modify the quantity, specifications, delivery or any other part of a solicitation, or if there is some part of the solicitation that is defective or incorrect, those changes will be made by an amendment to the solicitation using Form SF 30, Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract. The form itself is completed by the government and sent to prospective bidders.

Among the Business Tools is Standard Form 30. It is in Adobe Portable Document Format (.pdf), and you will need the free Acrobat Reader to view and print the file.

As we mentioned above, you will be asked to list any and all amendments that you have received on the bid form before you send it in. If you fail to do this or if you omit an amendment, your bid will be considered non-responsive. That means that your bid could be thrown out, even if you are the low bidder. Therefore, if you received Amendment number 0001 and 0003 and you have not received 0002, you need to call the buyer and find out what the missing amendment is.

If there is a change that will affect the bid opening, the government will extend the bid opening date (BOD) and send a notice to all prospective bidders. And, again, you must acknowledge this amendment in your bid.

Work Smart If the solicitation is an Invitation for Bid, you must bid the requirement as presented. To do otherwise will probably result in your bid being "kicked out." If you think a change is necessary, call the buyer before the bid opening date and explain why it needs to be changed. If the buyer agrees, the bid will be modified or canceled and re-bid with the changes. Of course, everyone else will get to bid the change also. If the solicitation is negotiated, you may be able to bid the changes explaining why this is in the best interest of the government. Read the solicitation carefully to make sure that this approach is allowed. If you are not sure, talk to the buyer to get the answer.