Required Language for Solicitations and Contracts

Bidder Instructions describe to potential bidders how to provide a responsive bid. The State Contracting Manual provides direction for use of Bidder Instructions.

Please refer to the Department of General Services' Office of Legal Services webpage for guidelines pertaining to non-Information Technology (IT) solicitations and contracts.

NOTE:  As the Bidder Instructions are revised, new effective dates will be used; old forms will continue to be maintained since they continue to apply to those solicitations containing them.

Current Bidder Instructions:

• Bidder Instruction (DGS PD 451) (PDF) - Updated November 9, 2011

Prior Versions:

• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (PDF) - effective July 1, 2010 
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (PDF) - effective August 3, 2007
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (PDF) - effective November 17, 2006 
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (PDF) - effective September 28, 2006 
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (MS Word) - effective September 10, 2004 
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (MS Word) - effective April 30, 2004
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (MS Word) - effective April 26, 2004
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (MS Word) - effective January 1, 2004
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (MS Word) - effective October 10, 2003
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (MS Word) - effective January 21, 2003
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (MS Word) - effective August 1, 2002
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (MS Word) - effective March 26, 2002
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (MS Word) - effective January 1, 2001
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 451) (MS Word) - effective March 27, 2000
• Bidder Instructions (DGS PD 450) (MS Word) - effective January 1, 1999

Refer to the State Contracting Manual for information regarding use of the General Provisions (IT and Non-IT). As a reminder, there are to be absolutely no changes made to the General Provisions without prior approval of DGS PD.

As the General Provisions are revised, new effective dates will be used; older versions will continue to be maintained since they continue to apply to those solicitations and contracts which used them.

The following is a list of General Provisions along with the changes made to each version.

Cloud Computing-Software as a Service (SaaS)

• Current Version (Revised and Effective 06/21/2022)

Information Technology General Provisions

• Current Version (Revised and Effective (06/21/2022)  

Non-IT Commodities General Provisions

• Current Version Non-IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 06/21/2022)

Cloud Computing-Software as a Service (SaaS)

• 2021 Cloud Computing (SaaS) General Provisions (Revised and Effective 11/19/2021) 
• 2019 Cloud Computing (SaaS) General Provisions (Revised and Effective 06/07/2019) 

Information Technology 

• 2021 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 11/19/2021) 
• 2014 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 09/05/2014) 
• 2013 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 11/27/2013)
• 2010 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 06/08/2010)
• 2010 IT General Provisions Accessible Version (06/08/2010) 
• 2007 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 04/12/2007)
• 2007 IT General Provisions Accessible Version (04/12/2007)
  This version includes the following update:
  • 58. DOMESTIC PARTNERS: modified language
• 2006 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 06/21/2006)
• 2006 IT General Provisions Accessible Version (06/21/2006)
  This version includes the following updates:
  • 16.e INSPECTION, ACCEPTANCE AND REJECTION: Modified language - changed from sixty(60) to thirty (30) days of delivery.
  • 18.a WARRANTY: Modified language
  • 24. FORCE MAJEURE: Deleted language "unless the subcontracted Deliverables or services were obtainable from other sources in sufficient time for the Contractor to meet the required delivery schedule."
• 2006 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 05/19/2006)
• 2006 IT General Provisions Accessible Version (05/19/2006)
• 2006 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 03/27/2006)
• 2006 IT General Provisions Accessible Version (03/27/2006)
• 2005 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 10/03/2005)
• 2005 IT General Provisions Accessible Version (10/03/2005)
• 2004 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 08/16/2004)
• 2004 IT General Provisions Accessible Version (08/16/2004)
• 2004 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 04/26/2004)
• 2004 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 01/01/2004)
• 2003 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 09/23/2003)
• 2003 IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 01/21/2003)

NON-IT Commodities

• 2021 Non-IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 11/19/2021) 
• 2010 Non-IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 06/08/2010) 
• 2007 Non-IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 04/12/2007)
• 2007 Non-IT General Provisions Accessible Version (04/12/2007)
  This version includes the following updates:
  • 17.e INSPECTION, ACCEPTANCE AND REJECTION:
    Modified language - added capability to identify a different rejection period in the statement of work.
  • 54. DOMESTIC PARTNERS: modified language
• 2006 Non-IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 06/21/2006)
  This version includes the following updates:
  • 25. FORCE MAJEURE:
    Deleted language "unless the subcontracted Deliverables or services were obtainable from other sources in sufficient time for the Contractor to meet the required delivery schedule."
• 2006 Non-IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 03/27/2006)
• 2005 Non-IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 10/03/2005)
• 2004 Non-IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 08/16/2004)
• 2004 Non-IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 04/26/2004)
• 2004 Non-IT General Provisions Accessible Version (04/26/2004)
• 2003 Non-IT General Provisions (Revised and Effective 01/21/2003)
• 2003 Non-IT General Provisions Accessible Version (01/21/2003)

When applicable, Special Provisions are to be used in addition to General Provisions. The State Contracting Manual (SCM) provides direction for use of required and optional Special Provisions to be included in specific types of solicitations and contracts. As a reminder, there are to be absolutely no changes made to required Special Provisions without prior approval of DGS PD.

• REQUIRED - Cloud Computing Special Provisions for Software as a Service (SaaS), revised 03/01/18 and effective 03/15/18
• REQUIRED - Cloud Computing Special Provisions for Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) & Platform as a Service (PaaS), effective 05/11/16

Cloud Computing tools and information

For Special Provisions used prior to 11/27/13, use the links below:
Note: These provisions have been incorporated in the published IT General Provisions (GSPD-401IT) revised 11/27/13.

• Special Provisions Cloud SaaS, effective 09/03/14
• IT Purchase Special Provisions, effective 02/08/07
• IT Maintenance Special Provisions, effective 01/21/03
• IT Software Special Provisions, effective 01/21/2003
• IT Personal Services Special Provisions, effective 02/08/07

For Special Provisions used prior to 02/8/07, use the link below:

• IT Personal Services Special Provisions, effective 01/21/03

For Special Provisions used prior to 01/21/03, use the link below:

• IT General Terms and Conditions, (03/27/00)
• IT Purchase Special Provisions, (03/27/00)
• IT Maintenance Special Provisions, (03/27/00)
• IT Software Special Provisions, (03/27/00)
• IT Personal Services Special Provisions (03/27/00)