The closing date for a bid is a specific date (and usually a specific time) when the bid is closed to the public for bid submissions. At this point, only the submitted proposals will be considered eligible. A closing date is an important part of a bid process because it establishes a level playing field for contractors to write and submit their best proposal for the project at hand. It is also an important thing to establish from the get-go because most (if not all) contracts have a specific start date and a time frame for the completion of the project. This ensures that the work will be completed in a timely manner.
As many contractors are aware, the closing date for each bid will vary greatly from project to project. Bids can be open for submission anywhere between one and two days to months. If a contract has a short turn-around date, chances are the agency is in urgent need of the products or services. Often times these contracts will be labeled "Emergency Contracts" or the agency will indicate that it has a short turn-around. Typically, though, contracts will be open for at least a week.
FindRFP has a 24 hour turn-around time, which essentially means that any bids that are issued today will be sent to you via email tomorrow morning. The 24 hour turn-around time ensures that FindRFP will get you the most complete, accurate and timely RFP's possible.
Also included within bids are due dates for other various things, such as bidder questions, statements of interest, and bidder's conferences, as discussed in a previous blog post. Please pay close attention to the closing dates to ensure your well crafted proposals do not get dismissed.
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