6.15.370 Cancellation of invitations for bids or requests for proposals.
(a) Policy. An invitation for bids, a request for proposals, or any other type of solicitation, without limitation, may be canceled, or any or all bids or proposals may be rejected in whole or in part when the Chief Procurement Officer deems it to be in the best interests of WSSC. Notice of such a decision must be made in writing and provided to all bidders or offerors.
(b) Rejection of Individual Bids or Proposals.
(1) General. This subsection applies to rejections of individual bids or proposals in whole or in part. For any solicitation, any bid or proposal may be rejected in whole or in part when in the best interests of WSSC.
(2) Reasons for Rejection.
(i) Bids. Reasons for rejecting a bid include, but are not limited to:
1. The business that submitted the bid is nonresponsible;
2. The bid is not responsive; or
3. The supply, service, or construction item offered in the bid is unacceptable by reason of its failure to meet the requirements of the specifications, permissible alternates, reasonable price, or other acceptability criteria set forth in the invitation for bids.
(ii) Proposals. Unless the solicitation states otherwise, proposals may be accepted subject to conditions. Reasons for rejecting proposals may include but are not limited to:
1. The business that submitted the proposal is nonresponsible;
2. The proposal fails to meet the announced requirements of WSSC in some material respect such as quality or specifications; or
3. The proposed price is deemed unreasonable.
(c) “All or Nothing” Bids or Proposals. Only when authorized by the solicitation may a bid or proposal limit acceptance to the entire bid or proposal offering. Otherwise, WSSC may deem such “limited acceptance” bids or proposals to be nonresponsive.
(d) Disposition of Bids or Proposals. When bids or proposals are rejected, or a solicitation canceled after bids or proposals are received, the bids or proposals which have been opened shall be retained in the procurement file; or, if unopened, returned to the bidders or offerors upon request. (Procurement regulations § 4-301, dated August 1, 2012)