Unless otherwise indicated in the BDS, alternative Bids shall not be considered.
If permitted in BDS, the Public Body may consider alternative technical solutions prior to the notification of the successful Bidder provided that the Bidder:
(b)Has submitted Bid based on alternative(s) to the Bidding Document as issued;
(c)Has included with the Bid a demonstration of the advantages of the alternative technical solution over the initial solution, including a quantifiable justification of any economic and/or technical advantages; and
(d)Has included with the Bid sufficient descriptive information for a complete evaluation of the proposed alternative technical solution by the Public Body, including calculations, technical specifications, breakdown of prices, proposed work methods and other relevant details.
Only the technical alternative(s), if any, of the lowest evaluated Bidder conforming to the basic technical requirements shall be considered by the Public Body.
In evaluating a Bid containing an alternative technical solution the Public Body may use any evaluation/award criteria as indicated in the BDS and Section 3, Evaluation Methodology and Criteria.
Alternative Bids not requested by the Public Body shall be rejected.
Period of Validity of Bids
Bids shall remain valid for the period specified in the BDS after the Bid submission deadline prescribed by the Public Body. A Bid valid for a shorter period may be rejected by the Public Body as non-responsive.
In exceptional circumstances, prior to expiry of the Bid validity period, the Public Body may request Bidders to extend the period of validity of their Bids. The request and the responses shall be made in writing.
Bidders who are not willing to extend their Bid validity period for whatever reason shall be disqualified from the bid without having forfeited their bid security.
Bidders agreeing to the Public Body’s request for extension of their Bid validity period have to express in writing their agreement to such request. Bidders who agree to such extension shall confirm that they maintain the availability of the Professional staff nominated in the Bid, or in their confirmation of extension of validity of the Bid, Bidders could submit new staff in replacement, who would be considered in the final evaluation for contract award. Similarly, they have to amend the validity period of their bid security on the basis of the extension of the Bid validity period they have agreed to, or alternatively, furnish new bid security to cover the extended period.
A Bidder not agreeing to extend the validity period of his/its bid security shall be treated as a Bidder refusing the Public Body’s request for extension of Bid validity period, and as such, shall be disqualified from further bid proceeding.
