15.208 Submission, modification, revision,

and withdrawal of proposals.

(a) Offerors are responsible for submitting proposals, and any revisions, and modifications, so as to

reach the Government office designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation.

Offerors may use any transmission method authorized by the solicitation (i.e., regular mail,

electronic commerce, or facsimile). If no time is specified in the solicitation, the time for receipt is

4:30 p.m., local time, for the designated Government office on the date that proposals are due.

(b)

(1) Any proposal, modification, or revision, that is received at the designated Government office after

the exact time specified for receipt of proposals is "late" and will not be considered unless it is

received before award is made, the contracting officer determines that accepting the late proposal

would not unduly delay the acquisition; and-

(i) If it was transmitted through an electronic commerce method authorized by the solicitation, it

was received at the initial point of entry to the Government infrastructure not later than 5:00 p.m.

one working day prior to the date specified for receipt of proposals; or

(ii) There is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received at the Government installation

designated for receipt of proposals and was under the Government’s control prior to the time set for

receipt of proposals; or

(iii) It was the only proposal received.

(2) However, a late modification of an otherwise successful proposal, that makes its terms more

favorable to the Government, will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted.

(c) Acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the Government installation includes the

time/date stamp of that installation on the proposal wrapper, other documentary evidence of receipt

maintained by the installation, or oral testimony or statements of Government personnel.

(d) If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that

proposals cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of proposals by the

exact time specified in the solicitation, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment

of the solicitation closing date, the time specified for receipt of proposals will be deemed to be

extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal

Government processes resume.

(e) Proposals may be withdrawn by written notice at any time before award. Oral proposals in

response to oral solicitations may be withdrawn orally. The contracting officer must document the

contract file when oral withdrawals are made. One copy of withdrawn proposals should be retained

in the contract file (see 4.803(a)(10)). Extra copies of the withdrawn proposals may be destroyed or

returned to the offeror at the offeror’s request. Where practicable, electronically transmitted

proposals that are withdrawn must be purged from primary and backup data storage systems after a

copy is made for the file. Extremely bulky proposals must only be returned at the offeror’s request

and expense.
(f) The contracting officer must promptly notify any offeror if its proposal, modification, or revision

was received late, and must inform the offeror whether its proposal will be considered, unless

contract award is imminent and the notice prescribed in 15.503(b) would suffice.

(g) Late proposals and modifications that are not considered must be held unopened, unless opened

for identification, until after award and then retained with other unsuccessful proposals.

(h) If available, the following must be included in the contracting office files for each late proposal,

modification, revision, or withdrawal:

(1) The date and hour of receipt.

(2) A statement regarding whether the proposal was considered for award, with supporting

rationale.

(3) The envelope, wrapper, or other evidence of date of receipt.

Parent topic: Subpart 15.2 - Solicitation and Receipt of Proposals and Information