These are the “red flags” of excluding qualified bidders
- Fewer than 50% of the companies that purchase bid packages submit bids
- Fewer than the expected or normal number of bidders submit bids
- Making it difficult or impossible for prospective bidders to buy bid packages
- Failing to adequately publicize requests for bids, e.g., only advertising locally
- Allowing an unreasonably short time to respond to requests for bids
- Adopting unreasonably narrow contract specifications, for example, using brand names to define contract requirements
- Adopting unreasonable “prequalification” procedures, e.g., unreasonably high annual turnover requirements
- Splitting purchases so that procured amounts are below the bidding limit (to allow non-competitive or sole source awards)
- Intimidating or threatening potential bidders to discourage or prevent them from bidding