FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 12: Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services › Subpart 12.6

FAR 12.603 Streamlined solicitation for commercial products or commercial services.

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 lets a contracting officer combine the required synopsis notice and the solicitation into one document for commercial products or commercial services, which shortens the time to solicit and award. It lists the specific information the contracting officer must include in that combined notice, such as the solicitation number, evaluation criteria, and offer due date. It also says a separate synopsis is not needed 15 days before the solicitation, but response time must still follow 5.203(b).

Applies to: Contracting officers issuing written solicitations for commercial products or commercial services

What it requires

  • Prepare the synopsis as described at 5.207
  • Include the required additional information in the Description, such as the combined synopsis/solicitation statement, solicitation number, and offer due date
  • Establish a response time in accordance with 5.203(b)
  • Publicize amendments to solicitations in the same manner as the initial synopsis and solicitation

Key terms: combined synopsis/solicitation · commercial products · commercial services · SF 1449 · response time

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

(a) When a written solicitation will be issued, the contracting officer may use the following procedure to reduce the time required to solicit and award contracts for the acquisition of commercial products or commercial services. This procedure combines the synopsis required by 5.203 and the issuance of the solicitation into a single document.

(b) When using the combined synopsis/solicitation procedure, the SF 1449 is not used for issuing the solicitation.

(c) To use these procedures, the contracting officer shall—

(1) Prepare the synopsis as described at 5.207.

(2) In the Description, include the following additional information:

(i) The following statement:

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in FAR subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(ii) The solicitation number and a statement that the solicitation is issued as an invitation to bid (IFB), request for quotation (RFQ) or request for proposal (RFP).

(iii) A statement that the solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular ______.

(iv) A notice regarding any set-aside and the associated NAICS code and small business size standard.

(v) A list of line item number(s) and items, quantities, and units of measure (including option(s), if applicable).

(vi) Description of requirements for the items to be acquired.

(vii) Date(s) and place(s) of delivery and acceptance and FOB point.

(viii) A statement that the provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition and a statement regarding any addenda to the provision.

(ix) A statement regarding the applicability of the provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services, if used, and the specific evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of that provision. If this provision is not used, describe the evaluation procedures to be used.

(x) A statement advising offerors to include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services, with its offer.

(xi) A statement that the clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition and a statement regarding any addenda to the clause.

(xii) A statement that the clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition and a statement regarding which, if any, of the additional FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the acquisition.

(xiii) A statement regarding any additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions (such as contract financing arrangements or warranty requirements) determined by the contracting officer to be necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices.

(xiv) A statement regarding the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating, if applicable.

(xv) The date, time and place offers are due.

(xvi) The name and telephone number of the individual to contact for information regarding the solicitation.

(3) Allow response time for receipt of offers as follows:

(i) Because the synopsis and solicitation are contained in a single document, it is not necessary to publicize a separate synopsis 15 days before the issuance of the solicitation.

(ii) When using the combined synopsis and solicitation, contracting officers must establish a response time in accordance with 5.203(b) (but see 5.203(h)).

(4) Publicize amendments to solicitations in the same manner as the initial synopsis and solicitation.

Sections it refers to

  • 5.203 Publicizing and response time.
  • 5.207 Preparation and transmittal of synopses.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Sections that refer to it

  • 5.203 Publicizing and response time.
  • 12.203 Procedures for solicitation, evaluation, and award.
  • 12.204 Solicitation/contract form.

← 12.602 Streamlined evaluation of offers.

Rule changes for FAR Part 12

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 12.603 Streamlined solicitation for commercial products or commercial services · SpendQuery