Overview
This section establishes the mandatory requirement for bids to be physically or electronically received at the specific location designated in the Invitation for Bids (IFB) prior to the exact deadline for bid opening.
Key Rules
- Designated Location: Bids must be delivered to the specific office identified in the solicitation; delivery to the wrong building or office may lead to the bid being considered late.
- Strict Timeliness: Bids must be received no later than the "exact time" set for opening.
- Deadline Synchronization: The deadline for submission is inextricably linked to the public bid opening time, emphasizing the transparency of the sealed bidding process.
Practical Implications
- In sealed bidding, "late is late"—a bid received even seconds after the deadline is generally rejected and not considered for award, barring very limited exceptions.
- Contractors must account for external factors such as courier delays, building security screenings, or electronic transmission lag to ensure the bid is officially "in the hands" of the government by the cutoff.