FAR 52.214-21 Descriptive Literature

Solicitation provision Federal Acquisition Regulation Apr 2002 version

Facts

Citation
FAR 52.214-21
Type
Solicitation provision
Current version
April 2002
Prescribed in
FAR 14.201-6(p)(1)
Alternates
Alternate I
Last amended
82 FR 4709 Effective Jan 13, 2017
Proposed changes
1
Text as of
FAC 2026-01
Official text
acquisition.gov

Text from acquisition.gov. Federal Register history from the Federal Register's records of the rules that amended this solicitation provision.

Text

As prescribed in 14.201-6(p)(1), insert the following provision:

Descriptive Literature (Apr 2002)

(a) "Descriptive literature," as used in this provision, means information furnished by a bidder, such as cuts, illustrations, drawings, and brochures, that shows a product’s characteristics or construction or explains its operation. The term includes only that information required to evaluate the acceptability of the product and excludes other information for operating or maintaining the product.

(b) Descriptive literature is required to establish, for the purpose of evaluation and award, details of the product offered that are specified elsewhere in the solicitation and pertain to significant elements such as-

(1) Design;

(2) Materials;

(3) Components;

(4) Performance characteristics; and

(5) Methods of manufacture, assembly, construction, or operation.

(c) Descriptive literature, required elsewhere in this solicitation, shall be-

(1) Identified to show the item(s) of the offer to which it applies; and

(2) Received by the time specified in this solicitation.

(d) If the bidder fails to submit descriptive literature on time, the Government will reject the bid, except that late descriptive literature sent by mail may be considered under the Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Bids provision of this solicitation.

(e) If the descriptive literature fails to show that the product offered conforms to the requirements of the solicitation, the Government will reject the bid.

(End of provision)

Alternate I (Jan 2017)

Alternate I (Jan 2017). As prescribed in 14.201-6 (p)(2), add the following paragraphs (f) and (g) to the basic provision:

(f) The Contracting Officer may waive the requirement for furnishing descriptive literature if the offeror has supplied a product that is the same as that required by this solicitation under a prior contract. A bidder that requests a waiver of this requirement shall provide the following information:

Prior contract number [fill-in]

Date of prior contract [fill-in]

Line item number of product supplied [fill-in]

Name and address of Government activity to which delivery was made [fill-in]

Date of final delivery of product supplied [fill-in]

(g) Bidders shall submit bids on the basis of required descriptive literature or on the basis of a previously supplied product under paragraph (f) of this provision. A bidder submitting a bid on one of these two bases may not elect to have its bid considered on the alternative basis after the time specified for receipt of bids. The Government will disregard a bidder's request for a waiver under paragraph (f) if that bidder has submitted the descriptive literature requested under this solicitation.

Federal Register history

Final rule Published Effective
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Uniform Use of Line Items 82 FR 4709 · FAC 2005-95
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Definitions for Sealed Bid and Negotiated Procurements 67 FR 13054 · FAC 2001-06
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Definitions 66 FR 2117 · FAC 97-22

Proposed changes

Proposed rule Published Comments
Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 14, 28, 36, and 52 91 FR 59534 · FAR Case 2026-010, Docket No. FAR-2026-0010, Sequence No. 1 Closed Oct 19, 2026No final rule found

Quick answers

What is FAR 52.214-21?

FAR 52.214-21 is a solicitation provision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, titled "Descriptive Literature".

What is the current version of FAR 52.214-21?

The current version is dated April 2002.

Where is FAR 52.214-21 prescribed?

It is prescribed in FAR 14.201-6(p)(1), Solicitation provisions.

When was FAR 52.214-21 last changed?

The most recent final rule on record is "Federal Acquisition Regulation; Uniform Use of Line Items" (82 FR 4709), published Jan 13, 2017 and effective Jan 13, 2017.

Are changes to FAR 52.214-21 proposed?

One proposed change has no final rule yet.

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