What does the public reference illustrate?
FAR 52.211-8 pairs item numbers and quantities with delivery periods and provides separate required and proposed schedules for applicable US federal solicitations. It is a useful public example of a quantity-linked schedule, not a rule that automatically governs a private electrical equipment enquiry.
RFQ Templates is independent and is not affiliated with the US Government. This article is not legal advice. The buyer and contracts owner decide whether partial deliveries are permitted and which dates and acceptance conditions govern.
Sources: Acquisition.gov: FAR 52.211-8 Time of Delivery, clause dated June 1997
Which fields should each delivery lot carry?
Use stable lot identifiers and identify whether each quantity is incremental or cumulative. Keep dispatch, arrival and technical acceptance as separate milestones. An early dispatch promise may not meet a required arrival date.
| Field | Evidence | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Lot | Item, configuration and lot ID | Identify what is being delivered |
| Quantity | Units in this shipment | State incremental or cumulative |
| Milestone | Dispatch, arrival or other defined event | Compare the same event |
| Location | Approved delivery point | Keep freight boundary explicit |
| Dependencies | Approved drawings, tests or release conditions | Do not assume availability |
| Exception | Supplier proposal and buyer disposition | No silent schedule acceptance |
How can identical totals hide different completion dates?
Illustrative example. A fictional RFQ requests four identical switchgear sections. Supplier A proposes two arriving in week 8, one in week 10 and one in week 12. Supplier B proposes all four arriving in week 10. Both offer four in total; A starts earlier but finishes later.
The cumulative receipt for A is two, three and four at those milestones. These are invented schedules using an already agreed week-counting basis, not actual supplier lead times. The buyer must assess the required sequence, interfaces and whether the offered split is permitted. This example does not recommend an award.
How should a revised schedule be compared?
Preserve the previous offer and reconcile quantity, configuration, milestone and delivery point for each changed lot. Confirm whether split freight, storage, documentation or acceptance arrangements introduce a separate qualification. Do not infer those costs or terms from the arrival dates.
The procurement owner records the approved commercial position and the responsible engineer reviews equipment and interface suitability. Engineering sign-off is performed only by the registered engineer on the job.
Common questions
What else should the bid team know?
Does first delivery mean the whole order is complete?
No. Record the final lot and cumulative quantity.
Can dispatch and arrival be compared as one date?
No. Define and compare the same milestone.
Does the example promise switchgear delivery times?
No. The schedules are fictional.
Primary sources
- FAR 52.211-8 Time of Delivery, clause dated June 1997Acquisition.gov