Or. Admin. Code § 137-049-0290 - Bid or Proposal Security

(1) Security Amount. If a Contracting Agency requires Bid or Proposal security, it shall be not more than 10% or less than 5% of the Offeror's Bid or Proposal, consisting of the base Bid or Proposal together with all additive alternates. A Contracting Agency shall not use Bid or Proposal security to discourage competition. The Contracting Agency shall clearly state any Bid or Proposal security requirements in its Solicitation Document. The Offeror shall forfeit Bid or Proposal security after Award if the Offeror fails to execute the Contract and promptly return it with any required performance bond, payment bond and any required proof of insurance. See ORS 279C.365(5) and 279C.385.

(2) Requirement for Bid Security (Optional for Proposals). Unless a Contracting Agency has otherwise exempted a solicitation or class of solicitations from Bid security pursuant to ORS 279C.390, the Contracting Agency shall require Bid security for its solicitation of Bids for Public Improvements. This requirement applies only to Public Improvement Contracts with a value, estimated by the Contracting Agency, of more than $100,000 or, in the case of Contracts for highways, bridges and other transportation projects, more than $50,000. See ORS 279C.365(6). The Contracting Agency may require Bid security even if it has exempted a class of solicitations from Bid security. Contracting Agencies may also require Proposal security in RFPs. See ORS 279C.400(5).

(3) Form of Bid or Proposal Security. A Contracting Agency may accept only the following forms of Bid or Proposal security:

(a) A surety bond from a surety company authorized to do business in the State of Oregon;

(b) An irrevocable letter of credit issued by an insured institution as defined in ORS 706.008; or

(c) A cashier's check or Offeror's certified check.

(4) Return of Security. A Contracting Agency shall return or release the Bid or Proposal security of all unsuccessful Offerors after a Contract has been fully executed and all required bonds and insurance have been provided, or after all Offers have been rejected. The Contracting Agency may return the Bid or Proposal security of unsuccessful Offerors prior to Award if the return does not prejudice Contract Award and the security of at least the Bidders with the three lowest Bids, or the Proposers with the three highest scoring Proposals, is retained pending execution of a Contract.

Notes

Or. Admin. Code § 137-049-0290

DOJ 11-2004, f. 9-1-04, cert. ef. 3-1-05; DOJ 20-2005, f. 12-27-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06; DOJ 19-2007, f. 12-28-07, cert. ef. 1-1-08; DOJ 15-2009, f. 12-1-09, cert. ef. 1-1-10

Stat. Auth.: ORS 279A.065

Stats. Implemented: ORS 279C.365, 279C.385 & 279C.390