RFO
RFO Version Available
The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul has published a revised version of this clause. The RFO version supersedes the eCFR text below for contracts using the RFO model; see the RFO deviation for applicability.
View RFO version52.214-20 Bid Samples. As prescribed in 14.201-6(o)(1), insert the following provision: Bid Samples (APR 2002) (a) Bid sample means a product sample required to be submitted by a bidder to show those characteristics of the offered products that cannot adequately be described by specifications, purchase descriptions, or the invitation for bid ( e.g., balance, facility of use, or pattern). (b) Bidders must furnish bid samples as part of the bid. The Government must receive the bid samples by the time specified in the invitation for bids. If the bidder fails to submit samples on time, the Government will reject the bid, except that the Contracting Officer will consider a late sample sent by mail under the Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Bids provision of this solicitation. (c) The Government will test or evaluate bid samples to determine compliance with all the characteristics listed for examination in this solicitation. The Government will reject the bid when the sample fails to conform to the required characteristics. Products delivered under any resulting contract must conform to— (1) the approved sample for the characteristics listed for test or evaluation and (2) the specifications for all other characteristics. (d) Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, bid samples shall be (1) submitted at no expense to the Government, and (2) returned at the bidder's request and expense, unless they are destroyed during preaward testing. (End of provision) Alternate I (MAY 2002). As prescribed in 14.201-6(o)(2)(i), insert the following Alternate I: (e) At the discretion of the Contracting Officer, the requirement for furnishing bid samples may be waived for a bidder if (1) the bid states that the offered product is the same as a product offered by the bidder to the __ [ as appropriate, the Contracting Officer shall designate the contracting office or an alternate activity or office ], and (2) the Contracting Officer determines that the previously offered product was accepted or tested and found to comply with specification and other requirements for technical acceptability conforming in every material respect with those in this solicitation. Alternate II (MAY 2002). As prescribed in 14.201-6(o)(2)(ii), insert the following Alternate II: (e) At the discretion of the Contracting Officer, the requirements for furnishing bid samples may be waived for a bidder if (1) the bid states that the offered product is the same as a product offered by the bidder to the __ [ as appropriate, the Contracting Officer shall designate the contracting office or an alternate activity or office ] on a previous acquisition, (2) the Contracting Officer determines that the previously offered product was accepted or tested and found to comply with specification and other requirements for technical acceptability conforming in every material respect with those of this solicitation, and (3) the product offered under this solicitation will be produced under a resulting contract at the same plant in which the previously acquired or tested product was produced. [48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 67 FR 13056, Mar. 20, 2002; 67 FR 21536, Apr. 30, 2002]
14.201-6(o)
(o)
(1) Insert the provision at 52.214-20, Bid Samples, in invitations for bids if bid samples are required.
(2) If it appears that the conditions in 14.202-4(e)(1) will apply and the contracting officer anticipates granting waivers and-
(i) If the nature of the required product does not necessitate limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate I; or
(ii) If the nature of the required product necessitates limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate II.
(3) See 14.202-4(e)(2) regarding waiving the requirement for all bidders.
(1) Insert the provision at 52.214-20, Bid Samples, in invitations for bids if bid samples are required.
(2) If it appears that the conditions in 14.202-4(e)(1) will apply and the contracting officer anticipates granting waivers and-
(i) If the nature of the required product does not necessitate limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate I; or
(ii) If the nature of the required product necessitates limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate II.
(3) See 14.202-4(e)(2) regarding waiving the requirement for all bidders.
DFARS Supplementary Guidance
214.201-6
(2) Use the provisions at 252.215-7007, Notice of Intent to Resolicit, and 252.215-7008, Only One Offer, as prescribed at 215.371-6 and 215.408(3), respectively.
Prescription data sourced from eCFR as of 2026-06-10 03:16 UTC.
Cross-references within the prescription are not resolved automatically.
Regulatory Stack
The layers of regulation that govern this clause, from the FAR prescription through agency-specific supplements and any active deviations.
RFO
RFO Version
Overhauled clause text
The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul publishes a revised version of this clause. See the RFO Version tab for the controlling authority under the RFO model.
FAR
FAR Prescription
14.201-6(o)
(o)
(1) Insert the provision at 52.214-20, Bid Samples, in invitations for bids if bid samples are required.
(2) If it appears that the conditions in 14.202-4(e)(1) will apply and the contracting officer anticipates granting waivers and-
(i) If the nature of the required product does not necessitate limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate I; or
(ii) If the nature of the required product necessitates limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate II.
(3) See 14.202-4(e)(2) regarding waiving the requirement for all bidders.
(1) Insert the provision at 52.214-20, Bid Samples, in invitations for bids if bid samples are required.
(2) If it appears that the conditions in 14.202-4(e)(1) will apply and the contracting officer anticipates granting waivers and-
(i) If the nature of the required product does not necessitate limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate I; or
(ii) If the nature of the required product necessitates limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate II.
(3) See 14.202-4(e)(2) regarding waiving the requirement for all bidders.
DFARS
DFARS Supplement (eCFR)
214.201-6
(2) Use the provisions at 252.215-7007, Notice of Intent to Resolicit, and 252.215-7008, Only One Offer, as prescribed at 215.371-6 and 215.408(3), respectively.
Version History
Version history is sourced from the codified eCFR. Changes published only as class deviations or by the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul do not appear here until they are incorporated into the eCFR. For RFO-driven changes see the RFO Version tab and any active deviations cited above.
No version history available from eCFR.
RFO Version
Comparison of the codified eCFR text against the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul revision. Highlights show additions (green) and deletions (red, struck through).
Clause Text
Substantive changes. The RFO version differs materially from the eCFR text.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
Unchanged
52.214-20 Bid Samples.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
1 added, 1 removed
As prescribed in 14.201-6(o)(1), insert the following provision:
As prescribed in 14.207(j)(1), insert the following provision:
2 added, 2 removed
(a)
(a) Bid sample means a product sample required to be submitted by a bidder to show those characteristics of the offered products that cannot adequately be described by specifications, purchase descriptions, or the invitation for bid (e.g., balance, facility of use, or pattern).
(a)
(a) "Bid sample" means a product sample required to be submitted by a bidder to show those characteristics of the offered products that cannot adequately be described by specifications, purchase descriptions, or the invitation for bid (e.g., balance, facility of use, or pattern).
1 added, 1 removed
(1)
(1) the approved sample for the characteristics listed for test or evaluation and
(1)
(1) The approved sample for the characteristics listed for test or evaluation; and
1 added, 25 removed
(d)
(d) Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, bid samples shall be (1) submitted at no expense to the Government, and (2) returned at the bidder's request and expense, unless they are destroyed during preaward testing.
(d)
(d) Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, bid samples shall be-
9 added
(1)
(1)
(1) Submitted at no expense to the Government; and
15 added
(2)
(2)
(2) Returned at the bidder’s request and expense, unless they are destroyed during preaward testing.
2 added, 1 removed
Alternate I (MAY 2002). As prescribed in 14.201-6(o)(2)(i), insert the following Alternate I:
Alternate I (May 2002). As prescribed in 14.207 (j)(2)(i), insert the following Alternate I:
1 added, 75 removed
(e)
(e) At the discretion of the Contracting Officer, the requirement for furnishing bid samples may be waived for a bidder if (1) the bid states that the offered product is the same as a product offered by the bidder to the __ [as appropriate, the Contracting Officer shall designate the contracting office or an alternate activity or office], and (2) the Contracting Officer determines that the previously offered product was accepted or tested and found to comply with specification and other requirements for technical acceptability conforming in every material respect with those in this solicitation.
(e)
(e) At the discretion of the Contracting Officer, the requirement for furnishing bid samples may be waived for a bidder if-
37 added, 12 removed
(1)
Alternate II (MAY 2002). As prescribed in 14.201-6(o)(2)(ii), insert the following Alternate II:
(1)
(1) The bid states that the offered product is the same as a product offered by the bidder to the _______________ [as appropriate, the Contracting Officer shall designate the contracting office or an alternate activity or office]; and
2 added, 93 removed
(e)
(e) At the discretion of the Contracting Officer, the requirements for furnishing bid samples may be waived for a bidder if (1) the bid states that the offered product is the same as a product offered by the bidder to the __ [as appropriate, the Contracting Officer shall designate the contracting office or an alternate activity or office] on a previous acquisition, (2) the Contracting Officer determines that the previously offered product was accepted or tested and found to comply with specification and other requirements for technical acceptability conforming in every material respect with those of this solicitation, and (3) the product offered under this solicitation will be produced under a resulting contract at the same plant in which the previously acquired or tested product was produced.
(e)
(2) The Contracting Officer determines that the previously offered product was accepted or tested and found to comply with specification and other requirements for technical acceptability conforming in every material respect with those in this solicitation.
13 added, 20 removed
[48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 67 FR 13056, Mar. 20, 2002; 67 FR 21536, Apr. 30, 2002]
Alternate II (May 2002). As prescribed in 14.207 (j)(2)(ii), insert the following Alternate II:
21 added
(e)
(e)
(e) At the discretion of the Contracting Officer, the requirements for furnishing bid samples may be waived for a bidder if-
41 added
(1)
(1)
(1) The bid states that the offered product is the same as a product offered by the bidder to the _________ [as appropriate, the Contracting Officer shall designate the contracting office or an alternate activity or office] on a previous acquisition;
37 added
(2)
(2)
(2) The Contracting Officer determines that the previously offered product was accepted or tested and found to comply with specification and other requirements for technical acceptability conforming in every material respect with those of this solicitation; and
28 added
(3)
(3)
(3) The product offered under this solicitation will be produced under a resulting contract at the same plant in which the previously acquired or tested product was produced.
Prescription
Substantive changes. The RFO prescription differs materially from the eCFR prescription.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
Unchanged
52.214-20 Bid Samples.: Prescription
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
1 removed
(o)
(o) (1) Insert the provision at 52.214-20, Bid Samples, in invitations for bids if bid samples are required.
(o)
(1) Insert the provision at 52.214-20, Bid Samples, in invitations for bids if bid samples are required.
19 removed
(2)
(2) If it appears that the conditions in 14.202-4(e)(1) will apply and the contracting officer anticipates granting waivers and-
(2)
43 removed
(i)
(i) If the nature of the required product does not necessitate limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate I; or
(i)
40 removed
(ii)
(ii) If the nature of the required product necessitates limiting the grant of a waiver to a product produced at the same plant in which the product previously acquired or tested was produced, use the provision with its Alternate II.
(ii)
10 removed
(3)
(3) See 14.202-4(e)(2) regarding waiving the requirement for all bidders.
(3)
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