What is the difference between a contract clause and a contract provision?
Contract clauses are terms or conditions used in solicitations and contracts, and they apply both before and after award. In contrast, a solicitation provision is a term or condition used only in solicitations and applying only before contract award. Solicitation provisions are primarily used to describe the terms and conditions of the solicitation – e.g. the evaluation of offers/or bid opening conditions. Contract clauses are placed into solicitations because these terms or conditions will apply both before and after(or just after) contract award; for example, a contracting officer may insert the clause, Option To Renew, and the provision, Evaluation of Options, into a solicitation to inform offerors of both the evaluation factors and the final contract terms. The solicitation provisions will be removed from the contract at the time of award but the contract clauses will remain.
