Which statement is true about private bids?

Which statement is true about private bids?

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

Answer: (B)

Private bids are opened in a controlled, confidential manner with the owner (or an owner-designated representative) in charge, and the architect often present to assist with verifying documents and tabulating results. This setup protects submission confidentiality while still giving the owner professional help to compare bids. The option that best captures this practice says the owner may open the bids privately, often with the architect’s assistance, because it reflects how private bidding is typically managed in practice. Opening bids publicly and recording them describes a public bid process, not a private one. The idea that the architect should reveal results only with owner approval aligns with confidentiality, but it doesn’t address who actually opens and tabulates the bids. Saying that the owner or owners may open bids privately is true but incomplete without noting the common architect involvement in private openings.

Private bids are opened in a controlled, confidential manner with the owner (or an owner-designated representative) in charge, and the architect often present to assist with verifying documents and tabulating results. This setup protects submission confidentiality while still giving the owner professional help to compare bids. The option that best captures this practice says the owner may open the bids privately, often with the architect’s assistance, because it reflects how private bidding is typically managed in practice. Opening bids publicly and recording them describes a public bid process, not a private one. The idea that the architect should reveal results only with owner approval aligns with confidentiality, but it doesn’t address who actually opens and tabulates the bids. Saying that the owner or owners may open bids privately is true but incomplete without noting the common architect involvement in private openings.