Which statement about private bid openings is true?

Which statement about private bid openings is true?

• A. Owner may open the bids privately, often with the architect assistance
• B. Architect should reveal the results with owner approval
• C. Owner or owners may open bid privately
• D. Bids are publicly opened only after evaluation

Answer: (A)

Private bid openings protect bid confidentiality during procurement. Reading and recording bids in a private setting helps maintain the integrity of the process, prevents premature disclosure of pricing, and reduces opportunities for tampering before the owner makes a decision. The owner may open the bids privately, often with the architect assisting, to verify compliance and document the results without publicly announcing them. The architect’s role is to help facilitate and record the opening, not to unilaterally reveal pricing to everyone at that moment. Public disclosure or post‑award announcements generally follow the initial private opening and evaluation. Other statements either misstate who reveals the results, or imply openings must be public, or omit the architect’s supporting role in the private process.

Private bid openings protect bid confidentiality during procurement. Reading and recording bids in a private setting helps maintain the integrity of the process, prevents premature disclosure of pricing, and reduces opportunities for tampering before the owner makes a decision. The owner may open the bids privately, often with the architect assisting, to verify compliance and document the results without publicly announcing them. The architect’s role is to help facilitate and record the opening, not to unilaterally reveal pricing to everyone at that moment. Public disclosure or post‑award announcements generally follow the initial private opening and evaluation.

Other statements either misstate who reveals the results, or imply openings must be public, or omit the architect’s supporting role in the private process.