Sec.

event prior to the time specified for the 5–2.406-4 Disclosure of mistakes after opening of bids. award.

(b) Bid openings shall be postponed 5–2.406-50 Submissions to the Comptroller

when an important segment of prospecGeneral. 5–2.407-6 Equal low bids, preferences.

tive bidders requests additional time for

filing their bids, or the contracting officer AUTHORITY: 88 5–2.201-50 to 5–2.407-6 18- is on notice, or has reason to believe, that sued under sec. 205(c), 63 Stat. 390; 40 U.S.C. the specified opening date is not appro486 (c).

priate or is not conducive to the maxi

mum practicable competition. Subpart 5-2.2-Solicitation of Bids (c) Bid openings may be postponed, if

determined by the contracting officer to § 5–2.201-50 Security requirements.

be practicable and in the best interests

of the Government, when the contract(a) Where making classified informa

ing officer has reason to believe that the tion available to contractors or prospec- bids of an important segment of bidders tive contractors is contemplated, the have been delayed in the mails for causes invitation for bids shall include the ap

beyond their control, and without fault propriate clause required by $ 5–7.150,

(25 F.R. 5573, June 21, 1960) $ 5–7.650, or $ 5–7.5101. If it is determined that these clauses are not appli- § 5-2.203 Methods of soliciting bids. cable for a particular contract (e.g., a [26 F.R. 725, Jan. 25, 1961) research or personal services contract), the Head of the Service or Staff Office

§ 5–2.203–1 Mailing or delivering to concerned with the procurement shall

prospective bidders. provide a suitable substitute clause.

(a) The contracting officer shall arThese clauses require adherence, by the range for the initial distribution of incontractor, to the security agreement

vitations for bids (and preinvitation (DD Form 441) made by industrial con- notices). Initial distribution shall be cerns with DOD to abide by the Indus

made to firms included on established trial Security Manual for Safeguarding

bidders mailing lists and to all others Classified Information. The release of

whom the contracting officer may select. classified information to contractors or

Distribution of such documents covering prospective contractors shall be effected new construction and specialized projects in accordance with the provisions of

designed under the direct supervision $ 5–53.202.

of the Office of Design and Construction, (b) In connection with the industrial

Public Buildings Service, may be made security program within GSA, the GSA

by that office. Security Officer provides overall coordi

(b) The initial distribution of invitanation and administration, including the

tions for bids shall include quantities refurnishing of technical advice and guid

quired by the Business Service Center, ance to contracting officers, maintaining

in the region where the invitation for liaison with DOD, and authorizing re

bids originates, for public display or reflease of classified information to con

erence and for filling of business and tractors.

public requests for copies. Business (26 F.R. 12693, Dec. 29, 1961)

Service Centers shall keep the contracting offices currently advised

as

to $ 5–2.202 Miscellaneous rules for solici- quantities required. In addition, contation of bids.

tracting offices shall furnish at least one [25 F.R. 5573, June 21, 1960)

copy of each invitation for bids included § 5–2.202–50 Postponement of bid open

in the Department of Commerce Syn

opsis of U.S. Government Proposed ings.

Procurement, Sales, and Contract (a) Whenever such action is deter- Awards to each Business Service Center. mined by the contracting officer to be in (C) Business Service Centers northe best interest of the Government, bid mally shall handle and record, as proopenings may be postponed by issuance vided in § 5-2.204(a), all requests for and distribution to all prospective bid- invitations for bids. ders of an amendment (see § 1-2.207) to (d) Firms in debarred or ineligible the invitation for bids. Notices of post- status will be treated in accordance with ponement shall be issued by mail or tele- § 1-1.604 and § 5-1.604. graph as early as possible, but in any [26 F.R. 725, Jan. 25, 1961)

$ 5–2.203–2 Displaying in public places. be recorded, if shown. After recording,

such bids shall be delivered immediately The Business Service Centers shall

to the responsible contracting officer who display copies of invitations for bids in

shall acknowledge receipt thereof on the such manner as to make them readily

duplicate copy of the list of bidders and available and accessible for public

record the bidder's name and address on examination. Upon expiration of the

the original list of bidders. Delivery bid opening dates, the copies shall be

of late bids which bear insufficient postremoved from display.

age shall be accepted if received prior 126 F.R. 725, Jan. 25, 1961)

to award. The postage due shall be paid $ 5–2.203–3 Publicity in newspapers if requested by the post office authorities and trade journals.

and the bids handled in accordance with Bids shall be solicited through paid

$ 1-2.303 and this $ 5-2.303. advertisements, when authorized by the

(b) Except as provided in $ 5–2.303–2,

a bid delivered after the bid opening appropriate head of a service or regional commissioner. Upon request, single

time by other than the Post Office or copies of invitations for bids, or a brief

by telegraph shall not be accepted.

Should a bid custodian find himself unsummary thereof, shall be furnished to newspapers, trade journals, magazines,

avoidably in possession of such a bid, it trade societies, and similar organiza

shall be immediately time-stamped and

handled in the same manner as pretions for free publication. (See § 1-2.203–3.) When invitations for bids which

scribed above for mail and telegraphic include costly material, such as detailed

bids, except that in lieu of data as to the specifications and drawings, are

time and place of mailing, a notation re

shall be made on the duplicate copy of quested by such an organization, the contracting officer shall furnish such

the list of bidders by the bid custodian material only when he determines that

explaining when and how he came into it is in the best interest of the Govern

possession of the bid. ment to do so.

$ 5–2.303–2 Consideration for award. (26 F.R. 725, Jan. 25, 1961)

When properly addressed bids are re§ 5-2.204 Records of invitations for ceived on time but, through error on the bids and records of bids.

part of the Government, are not opened

with other bids in response to the same (a) Business Service Centers shall submit promptly to the appropriate con

invitation, such mishandled bids shall be

considered for award if an irrevocable tracting officer a supplemental list of those (including their addresses) to

award has not been made. If award has whom such centers furnished invitations

been made and the maker of such a bid

otherwise would be entitled to award, for bids or amendments. The contracting officer shall arrange to furnish such

every effort shall be made to secure con

sent to cancellation of the award without prospective bidders, as well as those solicited pursuant to $ 5-2.203–1, with

cost by presenting a full explanation to

If applicable amendments or notices.

the bidder who received the award. (b) For records of bids see § 5-2.401

such bidder refuses to consent to cancel(d) (8).

lation, a full explanation of the circum126 F.R. 725, Jan. 25, 1961)

stances shall be furnished to the bidder who, except for mishandling, would oth

erwise be entitled to the award. ComSubpart 5-2.3–Submission of Bids

plete details of each such case shall be SOURCE: $$ 5-2.303 to 5-2.304 appear at 26

furnished to the appropriate head of F.R. 726, Jan. 25, 1961.

service or staff office and a copy thereof § 5-2.303 Late bids.

retained in the contract file. § 5-2.303-1 General.

S 5–2.303–6. Notification to late bidders.
In notifying a bidder of a la

bid re(a) Upon receipt of a bid delivered by mail or telegraph after the bid open

ceived before award, the following addiing time, the bid custodian shall record

tional language shall be used for the it on the duplicate copy of the list of

purpose of establishing a predetermined bidders prescribed in § 5-2.401 and show

time limit for his submission of evidence: in addition the date, hour, and place of

To assure its consideration, any evidence mailing. In the case of late telegraphic

submitted must be received in this office not

later than bids, the time and place of filing will

(Insert date)

In fixing the date to be entered, con- (b) Each regional Director of Business sideration should be given to the time Services shall designate bid custodians, required by bidders to develop and pre- and alternates as may be required, to pare evidence in relation to the accept

perform the functions incident to the ance period specified by the otherwise

receipt, custody, and recording of bids. apparent low bidder, avoidance of undue

(c) Adequate space and facilities shall delay in procurement operations, and

be provided for the receipt and safeother pertinent factors. As a general

guarding of bids and samples received rule, bidders should be allowed a mini

in conjunction therewith, and for the mum of three working days to develop holding of public bid openings. This and prepare their submissions. In addi

shall include the providing of a locking tion, appropriate allowance should be

type bid box located within sight of the made for the time required for mail bid custodian and at an accessible point transit of the notification and return of

where sidders or their representatives the evidence.

can readily deposit bids. § 5–2.303–7 Disposition of late bids.

(d) Bids received shall be handled as

follows: A late bid returned to a bidder shall be accompanied by a statement from the (1) At the initial point of receipt, contracting officer that the bid was not envelopes, or other outer covering, conconsidered because of the time of its taining identified bids received by mail receipt.

shall be immediately time-stamped or $ 5–2.304 Modification or withdrawal of

otherwise have legibly indicated thereon bid.

the place, date, and time of receipt by

authorized personnel, and then shall be (a) Bid modifications received prior to

delivered by special handling to the bid bid opening time shall be handled in the

custodian in the Business Service Center. same manner as bids and shall be at

(2) Bids received in unidentified or tached to the related bid envelope to

unsealed envelopes or other outer coverassure opening at the same time.

ing and bids opened by mistake shall be (b) The receipt required by § 1-2.304

handled in accordance with § 1-2.401(b). for withdrawal of a bid in person by a (3) When bids received by mail are bidder or his authorized representative

delivered to the custodian they will before the time set for opening shall be

immediately be placed in a suitable worded as follows:

locked cabinet. I certify that I am a bona fide, fully au- (4) Bids received which bear insuffithorized i agent for, official, employee, or cient postage shall be accepted and, if representative of

Post Office authorities so request, pay(Insert full name and

ment of the postage due shall be made.

whose bid on IFB address of bidder)

(5) Bids delivered in person by bidders No.

scheduled

or their representatives shall be deposited (Insert complete IFB number)

immediately in the locked bid box in for opening on

the Business Service Center. Bid custo(Insert bid opening date) dians shall have custody of a key or am hereby withdrawing from consideration, combination to this receptacle and shall and receipt thereof is hereby acknowledged. remove and time-stamp the contents

thereof at least once daily, and in any (Signature)

event, immediately before each bid open(Date)

ing. (See $ 5–2.303–1(b) regarding late

bids delivered in this manner.) 1 Delete inapplicable categories.

(6) Telegraphic bids or modifications Subpart 5-2.4—Opening of Bids and

will be sealed in envelopes immediately Award of Contract

upon receipt, appropriately identified,

and handled in the same manner as other § 5-2.401 Receipt and safeguarding of bids. No information as to the contents bids.

of such bids will be divulged by any em(a) Bids (including modifications and

ployees having access thereto. samples) received in response to invita

(7) At the end of each working day, tions for bids shall be received and safe

the bid custodian shall place all bids guarded by the appropriate Business

which have accumulated in the bid box Service Center until the time specified

in the locked cabinet referred to in for opening.

§ 5-2.401 (d) (3).

(8) As soon as practicable after receipt or his designee to be present to open and prior to the bid opening time, all bids

bids. received by the bid custodian shall be (c) Bid openings shall be open to busirecorded, in duplicate, on a separate list ness representatives, members of the for each bid invitation. This list shall press, and the general public. include the name and address of eachi (d) In order to assure that bids will bidder and the date and hour of receipt be opened at the exact time specified, as shown by the time-stamp.

the bid opening official shall verify that (9) The bid custodian shall, at the

the timepiece to be used is accurate. scheduled bid opening time, deliver all (e) For the information of those bidbids received in connection with the invi

ders present, approximately one minute tation to the authorized bid opening ofñ

prior notice of bid opening will be aucial, or his designee. At the same time,

dibly announced by the bid opening offithe pertinent list of bidders, in duplicate,

cial. shall be delivered to the bid opening offi

(f) The bid opening official shall take cial, or his designee, who shall acknowl- precaution to assure that the exact time edge receipt of the bids by signing the of opening has arrived and shall audibly duplicate copy of the list and returning announce this fact citing the invitation it to the bid custodian. The original list

or invitations scheduled for opening. He of bidders shall become a part of the

shall then proceed with the opening of contract file.

bids in full view of the parties present. 126 F.R. 726, Jan. 25, 1961)

(See § 1-2.402.)

(g) In reading bids, the following in

formation from each bid shall be an§ 5-2.402 Opening of bids.

nounced when considered practicable and (a) Public bid openings shall be held feasible in accordance with § 1-2.402(a): in the Business Service Center except The name of the bidder, the unit price when determined to be impracticable by for each item bid on, and other pertinent the Business Service Center and the con- information, such as delivery and distracting officer. The schedule for such count terms. A copy of each bid subopenings shall be developed jointly by mitted in multiple copies shall remain in the Business Service Center and the con- the bid opening room and be available tracting officer in order to avoid con- for public examination until the bid abflicts. The contracting officer shall be stract is completed and made available responsible for obtaining space for bid in lieu thereof. Bids submitted in an openings which are to be held outside original only shall be made available the Business Service Center. Whenever, for examination in accordance with and as soon as, it is justifiably deter- § 1-2.402(c). mined to hold the bid opening else- (h) When invitations for bids provide where, the contracting officer shall in- for the submission of bid or performance form the Business Service Center serving bonds or like guarantees, arrangements the geographic area in which the con- shall be made by the contracting officer tracting office is located as to the invi- or his designee to have a bonded collectation number and the location where tion officer present when bids are opened the public bid opening will be held.

to assume custody of guarantees other (b) All bids shall be opened by the than bonds. The contracting officer contracting officer, or his designee, re- shall retain bonds for checking of acceptsponsible for the procurement. The ability. As soon as awards have been designee shall be a fully qualified em- made, the contracting officer shall reployee of the contracting office. How- quest the collection officer to return ever, upon authorization of the head of guarantees other than bonds to unsucthe service or staff office involved, and cessful bidders. Bonds need not be rethe Special Assistant to the Adminis- turned. trator for Congressional and Public (i) A record of persons attending each Affairs, bids may be opened by selected bid opening shall be maintained. This Business Service Center personnel. Nor

record shall include, as a minimum, the mally, such authorization will be re- names of persons present, firms or orquested only when the geographic dis- ganizations represented, date and time of tance separating the Business Service opening, and the invitation numbers in Center where bids are to be delivered which each person is interested. The and the contracting office makes it im- record may be in any suitable form, such practicable for the contracting officer as appropriate notations on the reverse