OAR 137-047-0310: Bids or Proposals are Offers

(1) Offer and Acceptance. The Bid or Proposal is the Bidder's or Proposer's Offer to enter into a Contract. (a) In competitive bidding and competitive Proposals, the Offer is always a "Firm Offer," i.e. the Offer shall be held open by the Offeror for the Contracting Agency's acceptance for the period specified in OAR 137-047-0480. The Contracting Agency may elect to accept the Offer at any time during the specified period, and the Contracting Agency's Award of the Contract constitutes acceptance of the Offer and binds the Offeror to the Contract. (b) Notwithstanding the fact that a competitive Proposal is a "Firm Offer" for the period specified in OAR 137-047-0480, the Contracting Agency may elect to discuss or negotiate certain contractual provisions, as identified in these rules or in the Solicitation Document, with the Proposer. Where negotiation is permitted by the rules or the Solicitation Document, Proposers are obligated to negotiate in good faith and only on those terms or conditions that the rules or the Solicitation Document have reserved for negotiation. (2) Contingent Offers. Except to the extent the Proposer is authorized to propose certain terms and conditions pursuant to OAR 137-047-0262, a Proposer shall not make its Offer contingent upon the Contracting Agency's acceptance of any terms or conditions (including Specifications) other than those contained in the Solicitation Document. (3) Offeror's Acknowledgment. By Signing and returning the Offer, the Offeror acknowledges it has read and understands the terms and conditions contained in the Solicitation Document and that it accepts and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Solicitation Document. If the Request for Proposals permits Proposers to propose alternative terms or conditions under OAR 137-047-0261, the Offeror's Offer includes any nonnegotiable terms and conditions, any proposed terms and conditions offered for negotiation upon and to the extent accepted by the Contracting Agency in Writing, and Offeror's agreement to perform the scope of work and meet the performance standards set forth in the final negotiated scope of work.