FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 12: Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services › Subpart 12.3
FAR 12.303 Contract format.
The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.
In plain English
This section tells contracting officers how to assemble solicitations and contracts for commercial products or services under Part 12. To the maximum extent practicable, they must use a specific format built around Standard Form 1449 and certain standard clauses and provisions. It matters to contractors because it explains the standard structure and forms they will see in commercial acquisitions.
Applies to: Solicitations and contracts for commercial products or commercial services prepared under FAR Part 12
Key terms: commercial products · commercial services · Standard Form (SF) 1449 · solicitation provisions · contract clauses
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
Solicitations and contracts for the acquisition of commercial products or commercial services prepared using this part 12 shall be assembled, to the maximum extent practicable, using the following format:
(a) Standard Form (SF) 1449;
(b) Continuation of any block from SF 1449, such as—
(1) Block 10 if an incentive subcontracting clause is used (the contracting officer shall indicate the applicable percentage);
(2) Block 18B for remittance address;
(3) Block 19 for line item numbers;
(4) Block 20 for schedule of supplies/services; or
(5) Block 25 for accounting data;
(c) Contract clauses—
(1) 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services, by reference (see SF 1449, Block 27a);
(2) Any addendum to 52.212-4; and
(3) 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Products and Commercial Services;
(d) Any contract documents, exhibits or attachments; and
(e) Solicitation provisions—
(1) 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services, by reference (see SF 1449, Block 27a);
(2) Any addendum to 52.212-1;
(3) 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services, or other description of evaluation factors for award, if used; and
(4) 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications— Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
Sections it refers to
- 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
- 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
- 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
- 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
- 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
Sections that refer to it
- 4.1005-1 Required data elements.
← 12.302 Tailoring of provisions and clauses for the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services. · 12.401 General. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 12
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Parts 8, 12, 13, 15, 38, 44, and 51 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Prohibition on Certain Semiconductor Products and Services ↗ · proposed 2026-02-17 · comments due 2026-04-20
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Ending Procurement and Forced Use of Paper Straws ↗ · proposed 2025-07-21 · comments due 2025-09-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Small Business Participation on Certain Multiple-Award Contracts ↗ · proposed 2025-06-12
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Small Business Participation on Certain Multiple-Award Contracts ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Controlled Unclassified Information ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.