The sf25, Standard Form 25 (SF 25), Performance Bond, is the form prescribed by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for bonds furnished in connection with Government contracts. The Principal and one or more sureties sign it, name the contract it secures and state the penal sum. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The edition shown is Rev. 10/2023, and the form itself says the previous edition is not usable.
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What is SF 25?
Standard Form 25 (SF 25), Performance Bond, is the Government form on which a Principal and its sureties bind themselves to the United States in a stated penal sum, void if the Principal fulfills the contract identified.
The General Services Administration (GSA) issues the form, which is prescribed by GSA-FAR (48 CFR) 53.228(b). It carries OMB Control Number 9000-0001, with an expiration date of 1/31/2027 printed on it. The form is authorized for local reproduction, and its instructions say that any deviation from it requires the written approval of the Administrator of General Services.
The face of the form identifies the Principal (legal name, business address, type of organization, state of incorporation), the surety or sureties, the penal sum of the bond, and the contract date and contract number. Under the Obligation, the Principal and sureties bind themselves, jointly and severally, to the United States of America (called the Government). Under the Conditions, the obligation is void if the Principal performs and fulfills all the terms of the contract, including extensions and duly authorized modifications, and pays the Government the taxes withheld from wages when the contract is subject to 41 USC Chapter 31, Subchapter III, Bonds.
The second page holds the execution blocks: Principal, Individual Surety(ies), and Corporate Surety A through G, with space for signatures, seals, typed names and titles and each corporate surety's liability limit. A Premium block records the bond rate per thousand and the total.
Who needs to file SF 25?
The Principal named on a Government contract that calls for a performance bond completes SF 25 together with its surety or sureties. The form says it is authorized for use in connection with Government contracts.
Who signs and how:
- An authorized person signs the bond for the Principal. A person signing in a representative capacity, such as an attorney-in-fact, must furnish evidence of authority unless that person is a member of the firm, partnership or joint venture, or an officer of the corporation involved.
- Corporations acting as sureties must appear on the Department of the Treasury's list of approved sureties and must act within the limitations listed there.
- Individual sureties may be used; each one needs a completed Affidavit of Individual Surety (Standard Form 28) with the bond.
- Where several corporate sureties are involved, up to seven (Surety A through Surety G) can be listed on the form.
The form is for the contract it identifies. A different bond format is not a substitute unless the Administrator of General Services approves the deviation in writing.
When to file SF 25
The form sets one timing rule: the date in the Date Bond Executed box must be the same as, or later than, the date of the contract. Complete and execute the bond only once the contract it secures has a date and number to enter in the Contract Date and Contract Number boxes.
The form prints no filing deadline of its own, and no processing time. When the bond must reach the Government is a matter of the contract it secures. Use the current edition, Rev. 10/2023: the form states that the previous edition is not usable.
Documents you need
- Affidavit of Individual Surety (Standard Form 28): one completed affidavit for each individual surety, accompanying the bond.
- Evidence of authority: required from any person signing in a representative capacity, such as an attorney-in-fact, unless that person is a member of the firm, partnership or joint venture, or an officer of the corporation involved.
- Written approval of the Administrator of General Services: needed only if the bond deviates from the form.
How to fill out SF 25
Enter the date and contract details
In Date Bond Executed, enter a date that is the same as or later than the contract date. Then fill in Contract Date and Contract Number.
Identify the Principal
In the Principal box, insert the full legal name and business address. Mark one Type of Organization option (Individual, Partnership, Joint Venture, Corporation or Other) and give the State of Incorporation.
Name the surety or sureties
In the Surety(ies) box, enter the name and business address of a single surety. With multiple corporate sureties, insert only the letter identifier for each one.
Enter the penal sum
In Penal Sum of Bond, write the amount in the Million(s), Thousand(s), Hundred(s) and Cents columns. If no liability limit is shown, the limit is the full penal sum.
Complete the Principal's signature block
Under Principal, have each authorized person sign (up to three), type the name and title, and add the seal and the corporate seal where it applies. Attach evidence of authority for any signer who is not a member or officer.
Complete individual surety blocks
Under Individual Surety(ies), each individual signs and types a name, executing opposite the words "Corporate Seal". Attach a Standard Form 28 for each individual surety.
Complete corporate surety blocks
For each corporate surety (Surety A to Surety G), enter its name and state of incorporation, address and Liability Limit ($). The limit is the penal sum unless co-sureties allocate it, and allocations must total 100%.
Add signatures, titles and seals
Each corporate surety signs, types the signer's name and title, and affixes its corporate seal. Use adhesive seals for individuals where the instructions require them, such as in Maine or New Hampshire.
Fill in the premium
In the Premium block, enter the Bond Rate Per Thousand ($) and the Total ($).
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check names, addresses, dates, liability limits and signers against the instructions on page 3. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit SF 25
SF 25 prints no mailing address, portal or appointment rule for the completed bond. It is executed in connection with the Government contract named on its face, so follow the delivery instructions in that contract or from the Government office that requested the bond.
What the package should contain, according to the form's instructions:
- The signed bond, with corporate seals affixed by corporations, and with seals for individual signers as described in the instructions.
- Evidence of authority for any representative who is not a member of the firm, partnership or joint venture, or an officer of the corporation.
- A completed Affidavit of Individual Surety (Standard Form 28) for each individual surety. The Government may ask a surety for more information about its financial capability.
The only address printed on the form is for comments on the time estimate or the burden of the collection: U.S. General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20405. Do not send the bond there. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering a Date Bond Executed that is earlier than the contract date; the form says it must be the same or later.
- Using the previous edition of the form; the form states that the previous edition is not usable.
- Changing the wording of the bond without the written approval of the Administrator of General Services.
- Having a representative, such as an attorney-in-fact, sign without evidence of authority when that person is not a member of the firm, partnership or joint venture, or an officer of the corporation.
- Naming a corporate surety that is not on the Department of the Treasury's list of approved sureties, or exceeding the limitations listed there.
- Filling in several sureties' names and addresses in the face-of-form Surety(ies) box instead of only the letter identifiers (A, B, etc.) used in the Corporate Surety(ies) blocks.
- Allocating co-surety liability limits that do not add up to 100% of the bond penal sum.
- Leaving out Standard Form 28 for an individual surety.
- Omitting the typed name and title of each person signing, or the corporate seal or adhesive seal where required.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SF25 form?
The sf25 is Standard Form 25, Performance Bond, issued by GSA for use with Government contracts. The Principal and its sureties bind themselves to the United States in a stated penal sum, and the obligation is void if the Principal fulfills the contract named on the form.
Who has to sign SF 25?
An authorized person signs for the Principal, and each surety signs in its own block. A representative such as an attorney-in-fact must furnish evidence of authority unless a member of the firm, partnership or joint venture, or an officer of the corporation involved.
Can I fill out SF 25 online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of GSA and does not file the bond; the bond goes to the Government only through the channels that apply to the contract it secures.
Where do I send a completed SF 25 performance bond?
The form prints no submission address or portal. Follow the delivery instructions in the Government contract or from the office that requested the bond. The Regulatory Secretariat address on the form is only for comments about the time estimate.
Do individual sureties need anything extra?
Yes. Each individual surety needs a completed Affidavit of Individual Surety (Standard Form 28) with the bond. The Government may also require the surety to give more information about its financial capability.
What date goes in Date Bond Executed?
A date that is the same as or later than the date of the contract. The form says so on its face, next to the box, so do not use a date before the contract date.
How do I list more than one surety on SF 25?
Put the names and addresses in the Corporate Surety blocks (Surety A, Surety B, etc.) and insert only the matching letters in the Surety(ies) box on the face. Co-sureties may allocate their liability limits, which must total 100% of the penal sum.
Does SF 25 require a seal?
Yes. Corporations executing the bond affix their corporate seals. Individuals execute it opposite the words "Corporate Seal" and affix an adhesive seal if executed in Maine, New Hampshire or any other jurisdiction requiring adhesive seals.
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