Questions that might reveal the exclusion of qualified bidders include:
- Do you know or suspect, or have you heard, that qualified companies are excluded from the bidding process?
- Are unduly strict or unreasonable pre-qualification procedures employed that limit the number of bidders?
- Are requests for bids adequately publicized?
- Is the time period to respond to requests for bids adequate?
- Are the contract specifications unusually narrow to prevent some otherwise qualified bidders from bidding or winning?
- Are some bids rejected for insignificant “errors” or deficiencies?
- Do one or a few contractors win a disproportionate number of contracts?
- Do apparently qualified companies consistently fail to bid or lose unfairly in the selection process?
- Are controls and procedures to prevent the exclusion of qualified bidders in place and enforced?