RESOLUTION No. 2002-33

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has learned that there have been occasions where bidders on public works projects or purchases have waited until just before the deadline to submit their bids;

WHEREAS, these bidders are known to have alternative bids in their possession;

WHEREAS, these bidders then inquire as to the number of bids that have been previously submitted;

WHEREAS, the bidder then chooses which bid to submit depending upon whether other bidders have submitted a bid;

WHEREAS, it may be presumed that the bidders are likely submitting a more expensive or disfavorable bid if they learn that no one else has submitted a bid;

WHEREAS, this practice undermines the public bid process and is harmful to the public interest;

WHEREAS, the County Commissioners, having reviewed the public biddings law (RCW Chapter 36.32 and RCW Title 39) and their purposes, believes that it is in the public’s best interest to temporarily maintain the number of bids submitted confidential until after the deadline for receiving the bid has expired;

WHEREAS, there may be situations where a County official or employee may determine that the disclosure of the number of bids may attract more bids and therefore such disclosure may be in the public’s best interest;

WHEREFORE, the Board of County Commissioners hereby resolves that the number of bids submitted on a public bid or purchase shall not be disclosed to the public until after the deadline for accepting the bids has expired;

WHEREFORE, the Board further resolves that a bidding officer may disclose this information if the officer determines that such disclosure would be in the County’s best interest.

PASSED IN REGULAR SESSION this 20^th day of May, 2002.