11 Signs Of Ethical Competitive Bidding

PurchTips - Edition # 48 May 4, 2004

By Charles Dominick

Refer To This Every Time You Go Out To Bid!

1. Your specifications are not based upon a single supplier's capabilities
2. You determine objective supplier selection criteria before you issue a solicitation
3. You share the selection criteria with all bidders
4. You set a timeframe to respond that is reasonable for all capable bidders
5. You do not accept lunches, gifts, or any other contribution from any competing supplier, as such acceptance could appear to influence your decision
6. You answer all suppliers' questions at the same time with the same words using an email or letter with each supplier seeing all questions asked by other suppliers (but not the identify of the suppliers who asked the questions)
7. If you offer an extension of the bidding deadline to one supplier, you offer the same extension to all suppliers at the same time
8. You refuse to give information about other suppliers bids, including the dollar or percentage differential between one bidder and the lowest bidder
9. You do not give one supplier an opportunity to negotiate without giving all more favorably ranked or lower priced suppliers an equal opportunity
10. No member of the group that is evaluating bids is employed by, holds any position with, serves as a director of, has a financial interest in, or has a personal relationship with any bidder
11. You stick to the rules that you set forth in your solicitation. For example, if you say no late bids will be accepted, don't accept any late bids under any circumstances

It is important to share these guidelines when working with a group of individuals on a bid package

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