Each bid received, in any manner so received, shall be date-stamped but not opened, and shall be stored in a secure place until the time and date set for bid opening.9 The Agency shall create a register of the bidders and the time and date their bid was received.
The Agency is also responsible to ensure that all bids remain sealed until the bid opening in the format in which they are submitted.
Any bid received after the time and date set for receipt of bids is late. No late bid shall be considered for an award unless the Agency has determined, in writing, that considering such a bid is in the Agency's best interest and does not prejudice the other bidders.
Bids shall be opened in the presence of one or more Agency officials on the date and time designated in the IFB. Bids should notbe opened publicly. The name of each bidder and such other information as is deemed appropriate by the Agency shall be recorded. This information shall be available to the public via the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983 as discussed in Section 1.5.
9 Storage in a secure place requires bids be stored in such a manner that:
12 Miss. Code. R. 9-5.4