Proposal Changes Under FAR 15.306: Key Federal Rules
When estimators and trade contractors submit a federal proposal, they often wonder what can be revised after the submission deadline passes. Under federal contracting rules, delivering your proposal does not lock every single detail into stone forever, but it also does not grant an open invitation to rewrite your estimate. Federal procurement law establishes strict categories of post-submission exchanges. Understanding how the government handles clarifications, pre-range communications, and formal negotiations helps bidders protect their pricing structure and respond properly if contracting officers reach out.
Clarifications: Resolving Minor Errors Without Changing Scope
Under FAR 15.306(a), clarifications are limited exchanges between the government and offerors that occur when contract award without discussions is contemplated. An agency can make an award without discussions if the solicitation explicitly states that the government intends to evaluate proposals and award the contract without conducting discussions.
When a solicitation contains that notice, the contracting officer can still hold discussions if necessary, but the rationale must be documented in the official contract file under 52.215-1, 10 U.S.C. 3303(a)(2), and 41 U.S.C. 3703(a)(2). When award without discussions occurs, offerors may only be given opportunities to:
- Clarify specific proposal elements, such as the relevance of past performance information.
- Respond to adverse past performance information to which the offeror has not had a prior chance to reply.
- Resolve minor or clerical errors.
Clarifications do not allow offerors to revise pricing, add missing work items, or modify proposal terms. For general background on handling errors before an award decision, see our walkthrough on correcting or withdrawing federal bids.
Pre-Competitive Range Communications: Strict Prohibition on Revisions
Before establishing a competitive range, contracting officers may initiate communications under FAR 15.306(b). These exchanges lead up to establishing the competitive range and are legally limited to specific bidders:
- Offerors whose past performance is the determining factor keeping them from being placed within the competitive range (which must address adverse past performance not previously addressed).
- Offerors whose inclusion in or exclusion from the competitive range is uncertain.
These communications enhance government understanding, facilitate evaluation, and allow reasonable interpretation of the proposal. Contracting officers may explore ambiguities, perceived deficiencies, weaknesses, or mistakes under 14.407. However, the rule strictly forbids using communications to cure proposal deficiencies or material omissions. Offerors cannot use pre-range communications to materially alter technical or cost elements, nor can they submit proposal revisions.
Competitive Range Determinations: Establishing the Field for Bargaining
Under FAR 15.306(c), the contracting officer evaluates all proposals against solicitation criteria in accordance with 15.305(a). If discussions are to occur, the contracting officer establishes a competitive range comprised of all the most highly rated proposals.
The government may reduce this competitive range for efficiency under 10 U.S.C. 3303 and 41 U.S.C. 3703, provided the solicitation notified offerors that range limitation was permitted under 52.215-1(f)(4). If a proposal is excluded or removed from the competitive range, the contracting officer provides written notice under 15.503. Excluded offerors may then request debriefings under 15.505 and 15.506.
Discussions and Negotiations: What Can Actually Be Altered
True proposal revisions are permitted only during formal discussions after the competitive range is established. Under FAR 15.306(d), competitive negotiations are called discussions. Discussions are tailored to each proposal and must be conducted with every offeror within the competitive range.
The primary goal of discussions is maximizing the government's ability to obtain best value. Unlike earlier stages, discussions involve bargaining, which includes persuasion, alteration of assumptions and positions, and give-and-take. Contractors in discussions can revise:
- Offered price and labor costs
- Project schedules and milestones
- Technical requirements and equipment choices
- Contract types and general contract terms
At a minimum, the contracting officer must point out deficiencies, significant weaknesses, and adverse past performance to which the offeror has not had an opportunity to respond. When technical solutions exceed mandatory minimums and the solicitation offered evaluation credit for doing so, the government can negotiate for higher performance. Alternatively, if excess features are not integral to the design, the contracting officer may suggest removing those excesses so the offeror can decrease its price. To keep your initial submissions tight before discussions occur, review our reference on bid exclusions and clarifications.
An offeror can be removed from the competitive range during discussions if it is no longer among the most highly rated, even if not all aspects have been discussed or final proposal revisions submitted under 15.307(a).
Limits on Federal Exchanges: Protections for Competing Contractors
To preserve integrity during exchanges, FAR 15.306(e) prohibits government personnel from engaging in conduct that favors one contractor over another. Procurement officials cannot reveal an offeror's technical solution, unique technology, innovative use of commercial products or services, or intellectual property. In addition, officials cannot disclose an offeror's price without permission, although the contracting officer may state whether an offered price is considered too high or too low based on government analysis, or share reasonable price benchmarks under 41 U.S.C. 2102 and 2107. Government staff are also barred from revealing reference names for past performance or releasing source selection information under 3.104.
Sources
Acquisition.GOV: FAR 15.306 Exchanges with offerors after receipt of proposals
Published November 9, 2026. No affiliate links on this page. Facts come from the sources linked above; check them for updates.