Which of the following is not a common red flag of bid tailoring?

• A. A contract is not rebid even though fewer than the minimum number of bids are received.
• B. There are unusually broad specifications for the type of goods or services being procured.
• C. Only a few bidders respond to bid requests.
• D. Competitive awards vary among several suppliers.

Answer: (D)

Recognizing red flags in bid tailoring means spotting signs that a procurement process may be steered toward a favored bidder. Not rebidding when the number of bids is below the minimum suggests manipulation to protect a preferred bidder, because open competition is being curtailed. When specifications are unusually broad for the goods or services, it can narrow who is able to bid and steer the outcome toward a specific supplier. If only a few bidders respond to the bid requests, competition is limited, which can indicate tailoring to benefit certain bidders.

The scenario where awards vary among several suppliers indicates real competition and merit-based decisions, not tailoring. This pattern shows multiple bidders being considered and winning based on evaluation rather than favoritism, so it is not a red flag.