The contractor doing the Work now. The incumbent knows the Work, the risks, the actual costs, and the client’s idiosyncracies: this is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to rebidding.
Term: Extension
Delay (“slip”) in the submission deadline. Authorized by the client through an amendment to the RFP. Sometimes necessary; rarely welcome.
Term: Contract authority
Client’s contracting representative after contract award, and the only person authorized to amend the contract for the client. For greater clarity, what that means is that the technical authority cannot amend the contract on their own, so comments they make directly to the contractor are requests, not directions.
Term: Amendment
An amendment is a formal change to one of two documents:
- The RFP articles (e.g. draft contract, response instructions, statement of work) during the response period. See “addendum.” At the sole discretion of the client, but sometimes provoked by bidder questions and suggestions.
- The contract for the Work, after its award (e.g. to broaden/narrow the scope of work, to extend the contract term). Must be negotiated with the contractor.
Term: Technical authority
After contract award, the client’s senior technical representative. Understands the Work, assesses contractor performance, and negotiates changes to the Work. Contrary to what is often his own view, cannot authorize changes to the contract: these require the contract authority.