S.C. Code Regs. 19-445.2042 - Pre-Bid Conferences

A. Pre-bid conferences may be conducted. The conference should be held long enough after the Invitation for Bids has been issued to allow bidders to become familiar with it, but sufficiently before bid opening to allow consideration of the conference results in preparing their bids. Notice of the conference must be included in the notice of the solicitation required by Articles 5 or 9 of this code.

B. Nothing stated at the pre-bid conference shall change the Invitation for Bids unless a change is made by written amendment. A potential bidder's failure to attend an advertised pre-bid conference will not excuse its responsibility for estimating properly the difficulty and cost of successfully performing the work, or for proceeding to successfully perform the work without additional expense to the State.

C. Pre-bid conferences may not be made mandatory absent a written determination by the head of the governmental body or his designee that the unique nature of the procurement justifies a mandatory pre-bid conference and that a mandatory pre-bid conference will not unduly restrict competition.

D. To minimize the time and expense imposed on industry by pre-bid conferences, the procurement officer should arrange for attendance by electronic means to the maximum extent practicable.

Notes

S.C. Code Regs. 19-445.2042

Added by State Register Volume 31, Issue No. 5, eff May 25, 2007. Amended by State Register Volume 32, Issue No. 5, eff May 23, 2008; State Register Volume 44, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/26/2020.