Cone of Silence

To ensure proper and fair evaluation, FLVS observes a Cone of Silence applicable to all Competitive Solicitations. The Cone of Silence is imposed upon all competitive solicitations and is designed to protect the professional integrity of the procurement process by shielding it from undue influences prior to the recommendation of contract award.

“Cone of Silence” shall refer to the period of time between the posting of a Competitive Solicitation and the posting of a decision or intended decision with regard to that Competitive Solicitation. The “Cone of Silence” prohibits any communication regarding a particular Request for Proposal (“RFP”), Invitation to Bid (“ITB”), or Invitation to Negotiate (“ITN”) solicitation after they have been advertised.

Potential proposers/bidders, consultants, lobbyists, agents, and other third parties shall not contact members of the Board, FLVS staff, or evaluation committee members after the advertisement of any Competitive Solicitation prior to the announcement of award. All inquires regarding a posted solicitation must be directed in writing to the procurement department at [email protected], rather than reach out to department personnel, leadership, board members or evaluation committee members. During the solicitation process there may be no communication or side-bar discussions between committee members or with anyone outside of the committee regarding the solicitation or content of the received proposals for any reason. Potential contractors who violate the Cone of Silence period may be disqualified or barred from participating in the solicitation process. Proposer(s) shall not, under the penalty of law, offer any gratuities, favors or anything of monetary value to any officer or employee of FLVS in connection with any competitive procurement.

Cone of Silence does not apply to the following:

Communications between a potential vendor, service provider, bidder, lobbyist, or consultant and the Office of General Counsel.

• Communications at duly noticed pre-bid meetings and site visits prior to bid opening or post bid-opening meetings and site visits, which are administered by either the procurement department, prior to issuance of a written recommendation of contract award.
  
  
• Notwithstanding the foregoing, communications are permissible when such communications with a prospective respondent are necessary for, and solely related to, the ordinary course of business concerning any existing contract(s) between the prospective respondent and FLVS employees for the materials or services addressed in the solicitation (but in no event shall any existing vendor intending to submit a bid or proposal initiate communications to any member(s) of the Board).