Section 6.160  Preparation of Bids

a)         Bidders shall follow all instructions included in the Invitation for Bids and bid forms for submission of bids on the contract item for which bids are sought.

b)         Bidders shall submit their bids in the manner required by the Invitation for Bids.

c)         Unless otherwise provided, all prices shall be given in dollars and cents.  Separate prices shall be entered for all pricing items indicated in the bid form.  When alternate bids are sought for a particular contract item, the alternates will be identified in the bid form.  A bid on every alternate is not required unless otherwise specifically provided.  When required by the Invitation for Bids, the bidder shall indicate a unit price for each of the separate price items called for in the bid form.  The bidder may be required to show the products of the respective quantities and unit prices in a space provided for that purpose, and a gross sum shown in the place indicated in the bid form as the summation of those products.  All writing shall be in a permanent, noneraseable form, except the signature of the bidder, which shall be written in permanent, noneraseable ink.  Electronic signatures will be accepted for electronically submitted bids in accordance with the security standards established by the Department of Central Management Services. (See 5 ILCS 175/25-101(c) and 14 Ill. Adm. Code 105.300.)

d)         When required by the Invitation for Bids, each bid shall be accompanied by a bid bond in the form provided by the Department with the bid form package. The bid bond shall be made and tendered by a surety acceptable to the CPO in the amount stated in the Invitation for Bids.  The Department will accept a bank cashier's check or a certified check in lieu of a surety bid bond.

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 6222, effective April 8, 2020)