Chapter 22 - IT Competitive Sealed Bidding / Invitation for Bid

22.8.3 Alternate bids

Unless the IFB specifically prohibits alternate bids, a bidder may submit alternate bids. An alternate bid is a bid submitted in knowing variance from the IFB’s specifications and may provide opportunity for a bidder to incorporate the latest in technology or suggest alternative pricing and efficiencies. An alternate bid must be clearly distinguished and marked by the bidder as an alternate bid. The alternate bid must be a complete bid and not refer to information in the bidder’s primary bid or any other alternate bid. The agency will decide whether or not to accept alternate bids. It may be discovered that an alternate bid suggests a revised specification or additional features that should be included in the original IFB. In this case, the agency may decide to reject all bids and rebid the requirement with a revised specification incorporating features of the alternate.