for favoritism, whether [it] is actually practiced or not.
Neither can they include other reservations which by their necessary
effect will render it impossible to make an exact comparison of
bids." Webster v. Belote, 103 Fla. 976, 138 So. 721, 724
(1932).
A. Statutory Provisions
1. Minn. Stat. § 375.09:
No county commissioner shall receive any money or other valuable
thing as a condition of voting or inducement to vote for any
contract. Every contract made contrary to this section is void.
(See exceptions in Minn. Stat. § 471.88)
2. Minn. Stat. § 375.21:
Any contract made without compliance with the advertisement and
competitive bidding requirements is void:
3. Minn. Stat. § 382.18 and § 471.87:
It is a gross misdemeanor for any county official or deputy clerk
or employee of such official to be financially interested, directly or
indirectly, in any contract.
4. Minn. Stat. § 471.35:
It is a gross misdemeanor to prepare bid specifications so as to
exclude all but one type or kind of supplies or equipment.
B. Timing
1. Bid protests must be initiated promptly before the process
becomes unalterable.
2. A bid protest can be made prior to the bid opening.
Protests may be resolved through clarification, addenda or a bid
conference. Pre-bid resolution of protests is beneficial to the
bidding agency so that errors or omissions may be clarified or
corrected.
3. Most bid challenges are initiated after the opening of bids.
