Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) Practice Exam

Sealed bidding is a procurement process that is designed to foster transparency and fairness in the awarding of contracts. The primary objective of this method is to obtain sealed bids, which are submitted privately by bidders, ensuring that all submissions are made without knowledge of competing bids. This process culminates in awarding the contract to the lowest-priced responsible bidder, provided they meet all the specified requirements.

The key reason this method emphasizes the selection of the lowest-priced bidder is to control costs and promote competition among bidders. By focusing on price, it encourages more participants to enter the bidding process, knowing that a lower offer can secure the contract. This can lead to significant savings for the contracting entity and ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.

In contrast, the other options suggest goals that are not aligned with the fundamental purpose of sealed bidding. For example, encouraging open negotiations or facilitating direct negotiations with bidders would undermine the premise of sealed bids, which relies on a competitive process where bids are evaluated based solely on their content without prior negotiation. Additionally, disregarding the responsiveness of bids would conflict with the principles of ensuring that all submissions are compliant and meet the necessary requirements before they can be considered for award. Thus, the focus on obtaining sealed bids to award the contract to the lowest-priced