Deadlines, times of day, and time zones

After this lesson you should be able to copy the due date, time of day, and time zone from the applicable instructions, treat a missing zone as missing, and read late-proposal rules as conditional tests rather than a safety net. AsherGate does not submit bids and does not fill in a FAR default time.

No late-proposal exception is promised.

Copy the closing date, time of day, and time zone from the current solicitation and amendments. If FAR 52.215-1 is in the solicitation and no time is specified, FAR 15.208(a) and 52.215-1(c)(3)(i) set 4:30 p.m. local time for the designated Government office. FAR 52.212-1(f)(1) uses the same default when that commercial provision applies. Those defaults apply only if the matching provision is in the files. AsherGate analysis does not apply them. If the uploaded files omit a time or zone, the extract shows Not found. Never substitute 4:30 p.m. in the AI result.

FAR 15.208(b)(1) says a proposal received at the designated office after the exact time specified is late and will not be considered unless it is received before award, the contracting officer determines that accepting it would not unduly delay the acquisition, and one of three further conditions is met: it was sent by an electronic commerce method the solicitation authorized and was received at the initial point of entry to the Government infrastructure not later than 5:00 p.m. one working day before the due date; or there is acceptable evidence it was received at the designated installation and under the Government’s control before the deadline; or it was the only proposal received. A late modification of an otherwise successful proposal that makes its terms more favorable may be considered at any time and may be accepted. FAR 15.208(d) extends the deadline only if an emergency or unanticipated event stops normal Government receipt and urgent needs preclude amending the closing date. Meeting any one of those conditions does not guarantee consideration. Do not plan to be late.

Keep this as a side note. Sealed-bid invitations follow FAR 14.304, which uses a similar late test but does not include the “only bid received” condition that 15.208(b)(1)(iii) provides for proposals. Commercial packages that include 52.212-1 use paragraph (f) of that provision, including the same 4:30 p.m. default if no time is specified. Always read the provision that is in this solicitation.

Using the Flintshore story below, the RFQ PDF says 18 November 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Analysis first showed 2:00 p.m. with no zone. They keep 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time from the PDF in their own notes. AsherGate has no control to edit the saved extract. They submit through the named portal at 3:58 p.m. Pacific by their clock. The confirmation PDF shows received 4:07 p.m. Pacific Time.

Treat 4:07 as after the exact time specified. Do not assume the 5:00 p.m. prior-day electronic exception applies. Save the confirmation. Do not submit a second copy from AsherGate.