FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.2
FAR 52.214-31 Facsimile Bids.
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 provision allows bidders to submit bids, bid modifications, or bid withdrawals by facsimile (fax) in response to a solicitation. It matters because it sets conditions for faxed bids, including that they must arrive on time, contain required signatures, and may be excluded if incomplete or noncompliant. The Government may award based solely on the faxed bid but can require the original signed bid from the apparent winner.
Applies to: Bidders responding to a solicitation that includes this provision
What it requires
- Ensure facsimile bids arrive at the place and by the time specified in the solicitation.
- Include required signatures in facsimile bids.
- If requested by the Contracting Officer, promptly submit the complete original signed bid.
Key terms: Facsimile bid · Bidder · Contracting Officer · Solicitation · Representations
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
As prescribed in 14.201-6(v), insert the following provision:
Facsimile Bids (DEC 1989)
(a) Definition. Facsimile bid, as used in this solicitation, means a bid, modification of a bid, or withdrawal of a bid that is transmitted to and received by the Government via electronic equipment that communicates and reproduces both printed and handwritten material.
(b) Bidders may submit facsimile bids as responses to this solicitation. These responses must arrive at the place and by the time, specified in the solicitation.
(c) Facsimile bids that fail to furnish required representations or information or that reject any of the terms, conditions, and provisions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration.
(d) Facsimile bids must contain the required signatures.
(e) The Government reserves the right to make award solely on the facsimile bid. However, if requested to do so by the Contracting Officer, the apparently successful bidder agrees to promptly submit the complete original signed bid.
(f) Facsimile receiving data and compatibility characteristics are as follows:
(1) Telephone number of receiving facsimile equipment:
(2) Compatibility characteristics of receiving facsimile equipment (e.g., make and model number, receiving speed, communications protocol):
(g) If the bidder chooses to transmit a facsimile bid, the Government will not be responsible for any failure attributable to the transmission or receipt of the facsimile bid including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Receipt of garbled or incomplete bid.
(2) Availability or condition of the receiving facsimile equipment.
(3) Incompatibility between the sending and receiving equipment.
(4) Delay in transmission or receipt of bid.
(5) Failure of the bidder to properly identify the bid.
(6) Illegibility of bid.
(7) Security of bid data.
(End of provision)
Sections it refers to
- 14.201-6 Solicitation provisions.
Sections that refer to it
← 52.214-30 [Reserved] · 52.214-32-52.214-33 [Reserved] →
Rule changes for FAR Part 52
- 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: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 9, 27, and 47 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 14, 28, 36, and 52 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 3 and 49 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 5, 24, and 29 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 6, 7, 10, 18, 26, 37, and 41 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 1, 2, 4, 33, 39, 40, and 53 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.