Dictionary of Procurement Terms

1. A response to a bid or proposal that does not meet the exact requirements of the specification or scope of work but offers an alternative for consideration. 2. A bid/proposal submitted with an intentional substantive variation to a basic provision, specification, term, or condition of the solicitation. This alternative, in the opinion of the bidder/proposer, achieves the same result. Alternative bids and proposals may render the bid/proposal non-responsive. See also: Alternate Bid (Response).