Bidding time
Contracting officers must provide a reasonable bidding period—at least 30 days when a synopsis is required—while considering factors that ensure fair competition and reasonable pricing.
Overview
FAR 14.202-1 establishes the requirements for determining the appropriate bidding time in sealed bidding procurements. The regulation mandates that contracting officers allow a reasonable period for prospective bidders to prepare and submit their bids, balancing the government's needs with fair competition. When a synopsis is required under FAR subpart 5.2, the minimum bidding time must be at least 30 calendar days between the solicitation's issuance and the bid opening. The section also outlines several factors that must be considered when setting the bidding time, such as urgency, complexity, anticipated subcontracting, use of presolicitation notices, geographic distribution of bidders, and normal transmittal times. These considerations are intended to prevent restricting competition or inflating prices due to insufficient preparation time.