STANDARD FORM 30

Amendment of Solicitation / Modification of Contract

The SF 30 is the government's standard form for amending solicitations before award and modifying contracts after award. Master this form and you'll handle 90% of your post-award administrative work.

1Introduction

The SF 30 serves a dual purpose: it amends solicitations before award (pre-award amendments) and modifies contracts after award (post-award modifications). Every contract change you make in your career will flow through this form. Understanding what goes in each block is fundamental.

Key Point: The SF 30 is where authority lives. Block 13 determines whether a change is unilateral (made by the CO alone) or bilateral (requires contractor consent). Get this wrong and your modification is invalid.

2The Form at a Glance

The SF 30 is logically divided into three major sections:

  • Top half (Blocks 1 - 12): Administrative header information. Identifies the contract, the parties, and administrative details like contracting office and dates.
  • Block 13: The heart of the form. Authority for the modification. This block determines whether the change is unilateral or bilateral.
  • Block 14: Description of what's being changed. The actual substance of your modification.
  • Blocks 15 - 16: Signature blocks. Who must sign for the change to be valid.

3Block - by - Block Overview

Administrative Blocks (1 - 12):

Block 1

Amendment/Modification Number

e.g., P00001 for modifications, A00001 for amendments. Follows a numbering sequence unique to the document being amended/modified.

Block 2

Effective Date

When does this change take effect? Usually the date the CO signs, but can be different if agreed by the parties.

Block 3

Requisition/Purchase Request No.

The original PR or requisition number that started the procurement. Not always available or required.

Block 4

Project No.

If the contract is tied to a specific project or program, put the project number here. Often blank.

Block 5

Issued By

The contracting office issuing the modification. Usually your CO's office code or name.

Block 6

Administered By

The contracting office administering the contract. Often same as Block 5, but for DCMA-administered contracts, this would be DCMA.

Block 7

Contractor Name/Address

Legal name and mailing address of the contractor. Must match the original contract exactly.

Block 8

CAGE Code / DUNS

Commercial and Government Entity code and DUNS number. Identifies the contractor in government systems.

Blocks 9 - 10

Solicitation Amendment (Pre - Award)

Only fill these if amending a solicitation before award. Block 9A is the solicitation number; 9B is the amendment date.

Blocks 11 - 12

Contract Modification (Post - Award)

Only fill these if modifying a contract after award. Block 11 is the contract/order number; Block 12 is the mod effective date.

Block 13 - The Authority (CRITICAL): This is where you justify why you have the right to make this change. Three sub-blocks:

  • 13A - Amendment Authority: Check if this is a bilateral amendment to a solicitation (FAR 43.103(b)).
  • 13B - Signed by Contractor: Check if the contractor must sign (bilateral modifications always require this).
  • 13C - Authority for Modification: The specific cite. For unilateral mods, cite the contract clause (e.g., "FAR 52.217 - 9, Option to Extend"). For bilateral, cite the authority or write "Mutual agreement of parties".
Pro Tip: For unilateral modifications, Block 13C will cite a specific clause in the contract (52.243-1, 52.217-9, etc.). For bilateral modifications, you can cite a general authority or simply state "Mutual agreement of the parties." See Topic 35 for when to use each.

Block 14 - Description of Amendment/Modification: This is the meat of your SF 30. Write what's changing. Include:

  • A clear statement of what you're doing (exercising option, changing funding, etc.)
  • For pricing changes: show old amount, change, and new amount
  • For scope changes: describe what's being added/removed
  • The standard boilerplate: "Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect."

Blocks 15 - 16 - Signatures:

  • Block 15 (Contractor): Blank for unilateral mods. Both parties sign for bilateral.
  • Block 16 (Contracting Officer): Always must be signed by the CO (or their authorized representative).

4Numbering Conventions

SF 30 numbering follows a pattern (though agencies can vary):

Mod Type Numbering Pattern Example
Bilateral Modification P##### (P-number, zero - padded) P00001, P00002, P00003
Unilateral/Administrative A##### or just ##### A00001 or 00001
Solicitation Amendment Varies, often just sequential 0001, 0002 or 001, 002
Important: Don't invent a numbering scheme. Check the original contract or solicitation to see what sequence is being used. Never skip numbers or use non - sequential amendments/mods.

5Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ✕ Vague authority in Block 13C: "Mutual agreement" is not enough for bilateral mods. If you have a supporting clause or authority cite it. If it's a contract change clause, cite the specific FAR citation (e.g., "FAR 52.243 - 1(a)").
  • ✕ Mixing solicitation and contract blocks: Don't fill both Blocks 9 - 10 and Blocks 11 - 12. Pick one. If amending a solicitation, use 9 - 10. If modifying a contract, use 11 - 12.
  • ✕ Missing boilerplate language: Always include "Except as provided herein..." in Block 14. It saves you later when the contractor claims a side agreement.
  • ✕ Signing without authority: Only the CO (or their authorized representative per a delegation) can sign Block 16. Not the PM, not the contract specialist, not anyone else.
  • ✕ Wrong modification number: Use sequential numbers. P00001 followed by P00002, not P00001 then P00003.
  • ✕ Forgetting to route to contractor: A signed SF 30 doesn't mean anything until the contractor receives it (and signs it if bilateral). Route immediately upon execution.

Choose a modification type below and the SF 30 will update to show you exactly what a completed form looks like for that scenario. Click any highlighted block for more detail.

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION / MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT
Standard Form 30 (Rev. 11/2016) - Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243
1. CONTRACT ID CODE
PAGE OF PAGES
1 of 1
2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE
4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.
5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)
6. ISSUED BY
7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)
8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR
☐ THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS
9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.
9B. DATED / 10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.
☐ THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS
11. CONTRACT/ORDER NO.
12. FACILITY CODE / CAGE CODE
13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.
14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION
15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)
16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)
Standard block Key block (click for detail) Not used in this scenario
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