[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 48, Volume 5] [Revised as of October 1, 2006] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 48CFR814.201] [Page 173-175] TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM CHAPTER 8--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PART 814_SEALED BIDDING--Table of Contents Subpart 814.2_Solicitation of Bids Sec. 814.201 Preparation of invitations for bids. (a) Invitations for bids for supplies, equipment and services will be serially numbered at the time of issue. The number will consist of the station or National Acquisition Center division number, the serial number of the invitation, and the fiscal year in which issued, e.g., 101-24-84. A series beginning with the number 1 will be started each fiscal year. Invitations for bids for supplies, equipment and services which are issued, accepted and become contracts in the same fiscal year but, because of procurement leadtime, will not be performed until the ensuing fiscal year will be numbered in the series of the year in which they are issued. However, invitations issued in one fiscal year that will result in a contract that will become effective and performed only in the ensuing fiscal year will be numbered in the ensuing fiscal year series. (b) Invitations for construction contracts will bear the applicable IFB number and project number, if assigned. [[Page 174]] (c) In order to preclude adverse criticism of the Department of Veterans Affairs by prospective bidders relative to the disclosure of bid prices prior to bid opening, the provision entitled ``Caution to Bidders Bid-Envelopes,'' as set forth in 852.214-70, will be prominently placed in all invitations for bids. (d) To realize the greatest possible price advantage for the Government, items that may be processed by a contractor to effect a reduction in cost factors such as production, inspection and delivery, may be listed for award on both individual item and summary item bases. Items will be listed individually and, in addition, a summary price will be solicited for those items the contracting officer determines to be of a related character and normally handled by a majority of prospective bidders. (1) When different products are to be combined for a summary price, the quantity, unit and unit price columns opposite the summary item will be crossed out, e.g.: (Item No.) Summary bid for furnishing items ------ to ------ inclusive on an all or none basis: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quantity Unit Unit Price Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XX................................... XX..................... XX..................... $ XX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Bidder will enter summary amount.) (2) When a single unit price is solicited for a single product for delivery to various destinations, or for multiple deliveries, the total quantity required will be listed opposite the summary item, e.g.: (Item No.) Summary bid for furnishing items ------ to ------ inclusive on all or none basis: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quantity Unit Unit Price Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- XX................................... XX..................... XX..................... $ XX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Bidder will enter unit price and summary amount.) (3) Invitations containing a summary bid request will contain the following statement: The award will be made on either an individual item basis or summary bid basis, whichever results in the lowest cost to the Government. Therefore, to assure proper evaluation of all bids, a bidder quoting a summary bid price must also quote a price on each individual item included in the summary bid price. (e) Bid invitations for supplies, equipment, or services (other than construction) must define the extent to which alternate bids will be authorized and considered. Alternates specified on construction projects will be considered for acceptance only as a part of the basic item. (1) When an alternate item will be considered only if no bids or insufficient bids are received on the item desired, the clause set forth in 852.214-71(a) will be included in the invitation. (2) When an alternate item will be considered on an equal basis with the item specified, the clause set forth in 852.214-71(b) will be included in the invitation. (3) In addition to the clauses referenced in paragraph (e) (1) or (2) of this section, the clause set forth in 852.214-71(c) will be included in the invitation when bids will be allowed on different packaging, unit designation, etc. (f) When a contracting officer determines that it will be advantageous to the Government to make the award by group or groups of items, a provision for such award will be included in the invitation for bids. (1) This may apply when: (i) The items in the group or groups are readily available from the sources to be solicited; and (ii) It is desirable to make a minimum number of contracts; or (iii) Furniture or fixtures are required for a single project and uniformity of design is desirable; or (iv) The articles required will be assembled and used as a unit. (2) Solicitations for supplies and services, other than construction, will contain the provision set forth in FAR 52.214-22. (3) Solicitations for construction contracts which solicit prices on an item and alternate item basis (when it is intended that a single aggregate award will be made for all items in the solicitation within certain fiscal limitations) will contain a statement as to the order of priority in which the alternate items will be awarded. This priority will be based on the relative importance of an item, the Department of Veterans Affairs' estimate, and the [[Page 175]] amount of funds available. Such schedules will be substantially as follows: Item No. 1--Furnish all labor, material, equipment, etc., to paint buildings No. 1, 2, and 3, $------. Alternate items in order of priority. Furnish all labor, material, equipment, etc., to paint: Item No. 2--Building No. 1 only $------. Item No. 3--Building No. 2 only $------. A single award will be made on Item No. 1, but in the event the offer exceeds the funds available, a single award will be made on Item No. 2, or a combination of Item Nos. 2 and 3. Offerors should quote a price on each item listed. [49 FR 12599, Mar. 29, 1984, as amended at 50 FR 791, Jan. 7, 1985; 51 FR 23068, June 25, 1986; 52 FR 28559, July 31, 1987; 52 FR 49017, Dec. 29, 1987; 54 FR 30044, July 18, 1989; 63 FR 69219, Dec. 16, 1998]