(1) A
public body shall maintain a securely-locked bid box into which bidders may deposit
their bids.
(2) If
the size of the offer envelope makes it impossible to place them in the bid
box, such envelope shall be handed over to the officer in charge of the
Registry of the public body, who shall record the date and time of receipt,
ensure that the bids are kept in a secure area and handed over to the tender
committee at the bid opening.
(3) In
addition to direct deposit in the bid box, bids may be submitted by registered mail,
courier or any other means that may be specified in the bidding document.
(4) Any
bid received in the manner provided for in paragraph (3) shall be promptly placed
in the bid box or secured and kept confidential.
(5) A
public body shall ensure that all bids received are kept in a secure manner so as
not to permit the bids to be opened by accident or viewed.
(6) A bid received without proper sealing of
the envelope or one accidentally opened by mistake shall be resealed and
inserted in the tender box or other safe location together with other bids
(7)
No disclosure of the bids shall be
made to any person prior to opening of bids.
(8)
Any sample submitted should be
handled in a confidential and secure manner so as not to lead to the disclosure
of their characteristics prior to the opening of bids.