Which procurement method is described as bidding process for clearly defined specifications and the lowest price?

• A. Invitation for Bid (IFB)
• B. Request for Proposal (RFP)
• C. Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
• D. Sole source procurement

Answer: (A)

When the needs are clearly defined, procurement can use competitive sealed bidding. This approach invites bids that are opened publicly, and the contract is awarded to the lowest price that meets all specified requirements. The emphasis is on price competition, provided the bid is responsive to the specs and from a responsible bidder.

Other methods serve different goals: a Request for Proposal is used when you want to evaluate proposals based on multiple criteria beyond price, a Request for Qualifications focuses on assessing vendor capabilities before inviting proposals, and sole source procurement is non-competitive, used only when there’s a specific justification for choosing a single supplier.