What does an invited competitive bid imply?

An invited competitive bid specifically refers to a process where only selected contractors are permitted to submit their proposals for a project. This approach is typically used when the project owner wants to ensure that the contractors have the appropriate qualifications, experience, and capacity to undertake the work. By inviting a limited number of pre-qualified bidders, the owner can streamline the bidding process, encourage competition among capable contractors, and maintain a higher level of quality in the bids received.

This method ensures that the contractors who are invited to bid have already been vetted and deemed suitable for the project, allowing for a more efficient evaluation process and potentially better project outcomes. In contrast, an open bid would allow any contractor to participate, which could lead to a larger pool but not necessarily to a focused selection of qualified firms. The other options suggest processes that do not align with the nature of invited competitive bids, such as informal bidding or private negotiations, which do not capture the competitive and selective essence of this bidding method.