(A) Opening of offers.
(1) Bids received in response to an invitation for bids must be opened publicly in the presence of at least one or more witnesses at the time and place designated in the invitation for bids.
(2) Proposals received in response to a request for proposals must be opened so as to avoid disclosure of the contents to competing offerors during the process of negotiation.
(3) Proposals received in response to a request for specifications may be opened as specified in the request for specifications.
(B) Electronic receipt of offers.
(1) The purchasing agency may receive electronic offers in response to an invitation to bid, request for proposals or request for specifications.
(2) A purchasing agency may only receive an electronic offer if:
(a) The solicitation includes the procedure for the electronic transmission of the offer; and
(b) The purchasing agency receives the offer on a fax machine or other system with a security feature that protects the contents of an electronic offer with the same degree of protection as provided to an offer not transmitted electronically.
(C) Correct and withdrawal of bids.
(1) An offeror may correct inadvertent errors in a bid up to the time at which bids will be opened by supplementing the erroneous bid and submitting a revised bid. A bidder may not supplement an inadvertently erroneous bid after the time at which the bids were opened.
(2) A bidder may withdraw a bid containing inadvertent errors up to the time at which bids will be opened and for a period of not more than 24 hours after the time at which bids will be opened.
(D) Cancellation of solicitation. When the purchasing agent makes a written determination that it is in the town’s best interests, the purchasing agent may cancel a solicitation or reject all offers, provided that the solicitation included information concerning the procedure for cancellation.
(Ord. 080398A, passed 8-3-98)