2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 18. Public Contracts › Chapter 4. Montana Procurement Act › Part 3. Procurement Procedure › 18-4-303. Competitive sealed bidding

18-4-303. Competitive sealed bidding.
(1) An invitation for bids must be issued and must include a purchase description and conditions applicable to the procurement.
(2) Adequate public notice of the invitation for bids must be given a reasonable time before the date set forth in the invitation for the submission of bids, in accordance with rules adopted by the department. Notice may include publication in a newspaper of general circulation at a reasonable time before the bid submission deadline.
(3) Bids and other information received from bidders in response to an invitation for bids may not be inspected by the public until the department provides notice of intent to award a contract as provided in subsection (9). After the department provides notice of intent to award a contract, bids and other information received from bidders may be inspected by other bidders and the public subject to the same limitations specified in 18-4-304(8) for competitive sealed proposals.
(4) Bids must be unconditionally accepted without alteration or correction, except as authorized in this chapter. Bids must be evaluated based on the requirements set forth in the invitation for bids, which may include criteria to determine acceptability, such as inspection, testing, quality, workmanship, delivery, and suitability for a particular purpose. Those criteria that will affect the bid price and be considered in evaluation for award must be objectively measurable, such as discounts, transportation costs, and total or life-cycle costs. The invitation for bids must set forth the evaluation criteria to be used. Only criteria set forth in the invitation for bids may be used in bid evaluation.
(5) Correction or withdrawal of inadvertently erroneous bids, before or after award, or cancellation of awards or contracts based on bid mistakes may be permitted in accordance with rules adopted by the department. After bid opening, changes in bid prices or other provisions of bids prejudicial to the interest of the state or fair competition may not be permitted. Except as otherwise provided by rule, all decisions to permit the correction or withdrawal of bids or to cancel awards or contracts based on bid mistakes must be supported by a written determination made by the department.
(6) If an award is made, it must be made with reasonable promptness by written notice to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder whose bid meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the invitation for bids, including the preferences established by Title 18, chapter 1, part 1. If all bids exceed available funds as certified by the appropriate fiscal officer and the lowest responsible and responsive bid does not exceed the funds by more than 5%, the director or the head of a purchasing agency may, in situations in which time or economic considerations preclude resolicitation of a reduced scope, negotiate an adjustment of the bid price, including changes in the bid requirements, with the lowest responsible and responsive bidder in order to bring the bid within the amount of available funds.
(7) When it is considered impractical to initially prepare a purchase description to support an award based on price, an invitation for bids may be issued requesting the submission of unpriced offers, to be followed by an invitation for bids limited to those bidders whose offers have been qualified under the criteria set forth in the first solicitation.
(8) In case of a tie bid, preference must be given to the bidder, if any, offering American-made products or supplies.
(9) Prior to awarding a contract, the department shall provide to the public notice of intent to award a contract and of 7 days to submit written comments regarding the proposed award.
History: En. Sec. 14, Ch. 519, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 761, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 443, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 289, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 226, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 489, L. 2023.