Class Deviation RFO-2025-14: FAR Class Deviation for FAR Part 14 in Support of Executive Order 14275, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement

Class Deviation RFO-2025-14
September 22, 2025
MEMORANDUM FOR GSA CONTRACTING ACTIVITIES
FROM AND DIGITALLY SIGNED BY: Jeffrey A. Koses, Senior Procurement Executive, Office of Acquisition Policy (MV)
SUBJECT: FAR Class Deviation for FAR Part 14 in Support of Executive Order 14275, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement

On this page:

Purpose
Background
Summary of changes
Instructions
Applicability
Authority
Effective date
Have a question?

1. Purpose

This memorandum approves a class deviation to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 14 for purposes of implementing the FAR Council’s model deviation to FAR part 14.

2. Background

Executive Order (E.O.) 14275, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement, signed April 15, 2025, mandates a comprehensive review and simplification of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

The FAR is being updated to:

Eliminate non-statutory language.
Remove redundant or obsolete language.
Enhance clarity through plain language.
Align with the new FAR framework.
Preserve essential governmentwide acquisition standards.

This project is referred to as the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) initiative. This initiative will make the FAR more concise, understandable, and focused on core procurement requirements.

3. Summary of changes

FAR part 14, Sealed Bidding, is simplified to make the regulation more accessible, clear, and efficient for acquisition teams. Themes of the update for this part include:

Structural Reorganization for Logical Flow
Streamlining through Consolidation and Plain Language
Modernization for Current Practices

Statutory requirements retained in the RFO FAR part 14 model deviation include, but may not be limited to, the following:

10 U.S.C. § 3201 and 41 U.S.C. § 3301, Full and Open Competition
10 U.S.C. § 3206 and 41 U.S.C. § 3306, Planning and Solicitation Requirements
10 U.S.C. § 3301 and 41 U.S.C. § 3701, Basis of Award and Rejection
10 U.S.C. § 3302 and 41 U.S.C. § 3702, Sealed Bids
10 U.S.C. § 3702 and 41 U.S.C. § 3502, Required Cost or Pricing Data and Certification
41 U.S.C. § 1708, Procurement Notice
41 U.S.C. § 2301, Use of Electronic Commerce in Federal Procurement

Change	Description
Retained	The following provision and clauses are retained (or remain reserved) with no changes: 52.214-1 and 52.214-2 remain reserved 52.214-4 (Provision), False Statements in Bids 52.214-6 (Provision), Explanation to Prospective Bidders 52.214-8 and 52.214-9 remain reserved 52.214-10 (Provision), Contract Award—Sealed Bidding 52.214-11 remains reserved 52.214-12 (Provision), Preparation of Bids 52.214-13 remains reserved 52.214-14 (Provision), Place of Performance—Sealed Bidding 52.214-15 (Provision), Period for Acceptance of Bids 52.214-16 (Provision), Minimum Bid Acceptance Period 52.214-17 remains reserved 52.214-18 (Provision), Preparation of Bids—Construction 52.214-19 (Provision), Contract Award—Sealed Bidding—Construction 52.214-20 (Provision), Bid Samples 52.214-21 (Provision), Descriptive Literature 52.214-22 (Provision), Evaluation of Bids for Multiple Awards 52.214-24 (Provision), Multiple Technical Proposals 52.214-27 (Clause), Price Reduction for Defective Certified Cost or Pricing Data—Modifications—Sealed Bidding 52.214-29 (Clause), Order of Precedence—Sealed Bidding 52.214-30 remains reserved 52.214-32 and 52.214-33 remain reserved 52.214-34 (Provision), Submission of Offers in the English Language 52.214-35 (Provision), Submission of Offers in U.S. Currency
Moved/updated	The revised part structure now reflects the acquisition lifecycle: Subpart 14.1 - General Subpart 14.2 - Presolicitation Subpart 14.3 - Evaluation and Award Subpart 14.4 - Postaward Subpart 14.1, “General”, streamlines and consolidates the five sections that were previously within the former subpart 14.1, “Use of Sealed Bidding”. Subpart 14.2, “Presolicitation”, consolidates nearly all pre-award activities related to the solicitation process into a single chronological subpart. It is constructed from content previously located in subpart 14.2 (“Solicitation of Bids”), subpart 14.3 (“Submission of Bids”), and subpart 14.5 (“Two-Step Sealed Bidding”). Sections within the subpart are streamlined, consolidated, and reorganized to conform to the new subpart structure. Subpart 14.3, “Evaluation and Award”, consolidates activities that occur from the moment bids are received until the contract is awarded. It is primarily constructed from content that was previously located in parts of subpart 14.3 (“Submission of Bids”) and subpart 14.4 (“Opening of Bids and Award of Contract”). Sections within the subpart are streamlined, consolidated, and reorganized to conform to the new subpart structure. Subpart 14.4, “Postaward”, is designed to cleanly separate pre- award and post-award issues which are governed by different procedures. 14.401, “Mistakes after award”, relocates content previously found at 14.407-4. Placing this topic in a distinct “Postaward” subpart categorizes it as a matter of contract administration, fundamentally different from mistakes discovered before an award is made. The text has been revised for clarity and procedural requirements remain intact. 14.402, “Pricing modifications”, is a new section that provides a direct cross-reference to FAR part 15 for policies and procedures related to cost and price negotiation for modifications. This is a logical and helpful addition providing clear guidance for a common post- award activity. The following provisions and clauses are updated. Updates are primarily for clarity and cross-referencing corrections. 52.214-3 (Provision), Amendments to Invitations for Bids 52.214-5 (Provision), Submission of Bids 52.214-7 (Provision), Late submissions, modifications, and withdrawals of bids 52.214-23 (Provision), Late submissions, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of technical proposals under two-step sealed bidding 52.214-25 (Provision), Step Two of Two-Step Sealed Bidding 52.214-26 (Clause), Audit and Records—Sealed Bidding 52.214-28 (Clause), Subcontractor Certified Cost or Pricing Data—Modifications—Sealed Bidding The FAR Companion is expected to include best practice information on the following moved content that is not statutorily required: Subsection 14.201-8, “Price-related factors” Section 14.208, “Amendment of invitation for bids” Section 14.202-1, “Bidding time” Section 14.207, “Pre-bid conference” Section 14.209, “Cancellation of invitations before opening” Subsection 14.407-2(b) and (c), “Apparent clerical mistakes” regarding corrections Subsection 14.404-1(d), “Cancellation of invitations after opening” regarding extensions Subsection 14.408-1(b), “General” regarding a limited number of bids.
Removed	Section 14.105, “Solicitations for informational or planning purposes” is removed to align with streamlining efforts. Subsection 14.202-3, “Bid envelopes” is removed to align with modernization efforts. Subsection 14.202-7, “Facsimile Bids” is removed to align with modernization efforts. Section 14.211, “Release of Acquisition Information” is removed because the content is adequately covered in other parts of the FAR. Subsection 14.408-7, “Documentation of Award” is removed because the content is adequately covered elsewhere in the part or other parts of the FAR. Subsection 14.408-8, “Protests against Award” is removed because the content is adequately covered elsewhere in the FAR. The following provision is deleted to align with the modernization efforts: 52.214-31, Facsimile Bids.

This table is not an exhaustive list.

4. Instructions

The GSA acquisition workforce must follow the RFO part 14 and corresponding 52 model deviation text instead of FAR parts 14 and 52 as codified at 48 CFR Chapter 1. The Council’s RFO part 14 model deviation text is available at Acquisition.gov/far-overhaul, and is incorporated into this class deviation.
For new solicitations or contracts, when using any provisions or clauses that have been revised, utilize the RFO model deviation language at RFO FAR part 52.
For open solicitations or awarded contracts, the contracting officer has discretion regarding the need to enforce or amend the provisions or clauses. Note that without some of the removed provisions or clauses, the contracting officer may be required to separately address certain aspects in the contract.
Contracting activities must review templates and related standard operating procedures to align with this class deviation and remove unnecessary processes and steps.

5. Applicability

This class deviation applies to all GSA procurements.

6. Authority

This class deviation is issued under the authority of EO 14275, OMB Memo M-25- 26 [PDF], 48 CFR 1.4, and RFO FAR 1.304.

7. Effective date

This class deviation is effective November 3, 2025 and remains in effect until rescinded or incorporated into the FAR.

8. Have a question?

Try asking GSAi first (upload the new RFO language and GSA’s implementing deviation, then ask your question. Please note, GSAi is accessible to GSA employees only). If you still need clarification, email the GSA Acquisition Policy Division at GSARPolicy@gsa.gov.