It collects the total or itemized prices, addenda acknowledgments, bid security, signatures, and certifications the solicitation demands. Using the agency's form (or a letter that accepts every term without variation) keeps a bid responsive. Deviate from the prescribed format and the bid can be rejected.
Many forms include representations a bidder swears to: non-collusion affidavits, debarment and eligibility statements, and equal-opportunity or prevailing-wage acknowledgments. On unit-price work, the bidder enters a price for every line item against agency-supplied quantities. Where words and figures disagree, most instructions say the written amount controls. Unsigned or improperly authorized forms are a common reason an otherwise low bid is thrown out. Nonlinear reads the solicitation and lists the forms and entries a complete, responsive submission requires.
