The Law of Tendering

13 important questions on The Law of Tendering

What are Contract A & B?

- Contract A is the bidding contract (the how: the rules of the bidding process)
- Contract B is the construction contract (the what: the project)

What makes up tendering contract rights and responsabilities?

- Contract A/B and implied duty of fairness to all bidders (no bid shopping), liability for damaged under breach of Contract A

What are the basic criteria of a tender?

- Competitive procurement process
- Period of irrevocability
- Binding form of Contract B
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What are included in the Tender Documents?

- Invitation to bid
- Instruction to Bidders, referencing contract B
- Tender form

What did Ron Engineering Case change? What was the issue with the prior system?

- Before the case, a bid was just an offer, could withdraw bid with no consequences
- Owner owed no obligations to bidder unless contract awarded
- Issue: owner could bid shop and sub-contractors could withdraw

What is Contract A? What does it entail?

- Defines rules of bidding process
- The offer is the owner's call for bids
- Entered into with every compliant bid
- Acceptance is the bidder's submission of a bid
- Consideration is owners promise to evaluate bid for acceptance

Who is liable in breach of contract A? What would make a breach? What would make Contract A not be created?

Owner or bidder
withdrawing bids during period of irrevocability on part of the bidder
Not evaluating bid on part of the owner
A non-compliant bid would make Contract A not be created

What is Contract B? What does Contract B entail?

- Contains the bidder's offer to enter into construction contract and perform the work
- If bid accepted Contract B becomes the basis for a construction contract
- Bidder performs work and owner will pay

What are privilege clauses?

- Permits owner not to accept the lowest of bids
- Can reject bid on basis of tender irregularity (not meeting terms), won't form a Contract A

What is Non-Compliance? What can this result in?

- Bid is not compliant with tender
- e.g. Graham construction
- Not forming a Contract A

What happens if an owner breaches contract A? When a tenderer breaches contract A?

- Owner: Bidder recovers lost profits without performing work!
- Tenderer: Owner recovers costs of awarding contract to next highest bidder

What is Bid Shopping?

When an owner uses bids submitted as a negotiating tool before contract has been awarded to obtain a better price

What are procurement best practices?

- Understand tendering law
- Comply with contract A
- Maintain integrity of bidding system

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