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part52.dev Federal Acquisition Clause Monitor
FAR Clause

52.214-6

Explanation to Prospective Bidders.
View on acquisition.gov · View on eCFR.gov
Effective Date
APR 1984
Active Deviations
—
Versions
1 (since 2017-01-01)
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 version 
52.214-6 Explanation to Prospective Bidders.

As prescribed in 14.201-6(c)(2), insert the following provision:

Explanation to Prospective Bidders (APR 1984)

Any prospective bidder desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing soon enough to allow a reply to reach all prospective bidders before the submission of their bids. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding. Any information given a prospective bidder concerning a solicitation will be furnished promptly to all other prospective bidders as an amendment to the solicitation, if that information is necessary in submitting bids or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to other prospective bidders.

(End of provision)

[48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 55 FR 25531, June 21, 1990]
14.201-6(c)
(c) Insert the following provisions in invitations for bids:

(1) 52.214-5, Submission of Bids.

(2) 52.214-6, Explanation to Prospective Bidders.

(3) 52.214-7, Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Bids.

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.

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FAR FAR Prescription 14.201-6(c)
(c) Insert the following provisions in invitations for bids:

(1) 52.214-5, Submission of Bids.

(2) 52.214-6, Explanation to Prospective Bidders.

(3) 52.214-7, Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Bids.

View on acquisition.gov · View on eCFR.gov

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.

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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
52.214-6 Explanation to Prospective Bidders.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
1 added, 1 removed
As prescribed in 14.201-6(c)(2), insert the following provision:
As prescribed in 14.207(b)(4), insert the following provision:
1 added, 1 removed
Any prospective bidder desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing soon enough to allow a reply to reach all prospective bidders before the submission of their bids. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding. Any information given a prospective bidder concerning a solicitation will be furnished promptly to all other prospective bidders as an amendment to the solicitation, if that information is necessary in submitting bids or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to other prospective bidders.
Any prospective bidder desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., shall request it in writing soon enough to allow a reply to reach all prospective bidders before the submission of their bids. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding. Any information given a prospective bidder concerning a solicitation will be furnished promptly to all other prospective bidders as an amendment to the solicitation, if that information is necessary in submitting bids or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to other prospective bidders.
15 removed
[48 FR 42478, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 55 FR 25531, June 21, 1990]

Prescription

Substantive changes. The RFO prescription differs materially from the eCFR prescription.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
Unchanged
52.214-6 Explanation to Prospective Bidders.: Prescription
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
6 added, 9 removed
(c)
(c) Insert the following provisions in invitations for bids:
(c)
(4) 52.214-6, Explanation to Prospective Bidders.
5 removed
(1)
(1) 52.214-5, Submission of Bids.
(1)
6 removed
(2)
(2) 52.214-6, Explanation to Prospective Bidders.
(2)
9 removed
(3)
(3) 52.214-7, Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Bids.
(3)

Source: acquisition.gov RFO Part 52 · Prescribing Part 14

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