eProcurement Bidding/Bonding Guidelines

A coalition of organizations deeply involved in the procurement and bonding processes of public projects, has joined together on a set of common principles addressing the use and impact of electronic methodologies in the procurement process. The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), the American Subcontractors Association (ASA), the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the Surety Association of America (SAA) and the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP), representing the supply side of construction industry stakeholders, have developed the following document to assist public owners implementing electronic procurement as guidance regarding methodologies and system characteristics that respect the interests of all parties. The stakeholders acknowledge that the advent of electronic procurement and bonding offers unprecedented opportunities to reduce processing costs, enhance transparency and increase efficiency for all parties. Such electronic methodologies, however, must be open, interoperable and have adequate security and privacy safeguards to preserve and promote the integrity of a competitive procurement environment. At a minimum, electronic methodologies within the procurement/bond process should adopt clear procedures that reduce confusion and that allow access to all qualified bidders. Further, any process should not affect the legal rights and responsibilities of all parties:  owners, construction managers, contractors, sureties and bond producers. This document serves to establish common parameters for all public owners in the electronic procurement and bonding process.

eProcurement Bidding/Bonding Guidelines (5/30/2006)