9 6 THE IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS. 



intending to bid or not to bid, or to whom information in respect to proposals may 

 have been given. 



15. All blank spaces in the proposal and bond must be filled in, and no change shall 

 be made in the phraseology of the proposal, or addition to the items mentioned therein. 

 Any conditions, limitations, or provisos attached to proposals will be liable to render them 

 informal and cause their rejection. 



16. Alterations by erasure or interlineation must be explained or noted in the 

 proposal over the signature of the bidder. 



17. If a bidder wishes to withdraw his proposal, he may do so before the time fixed 

 for the opening, without prejudice to himself, by communicating his purpose in writing 

 to the officer who holds it, and, when reached, it shall be handed to him, or his author- 

 ized agent, unread. 



1 8. No bids received after the time set for opening of proposals will be considered. 



19. The proposals and guaranties must be placed in a sealed envelope marked 



" Proposals for , to be opened 19 ..." 



and inclosed in another sealed envelope addressed to Corps of 



Engineers, U. S. A , but otherwise 



unmarked. It is suggested that the inner envelope be sealed with sealing wax. 



20. It is understood and agreed that the quantities given are approximate only, 

 and that no claim shall be made against the United States on account of any excess or 

 deficiency, absolute or relative, in the same. Bidders, or their authorized agents, 

 are expected to examine the maps and drawings in this office, which are open to their 

 inspection, to visit the locality of the work, and to make their own estimates of the 

 facilities and difficulties attending the execution of the proposed contract, including 

 local conditions, uncertainty of weather, and all other contingencies. 



21. The United States reserves the right to reject any and all bids, and to waive 

 any informality in the bids received ; also to disregard the bid of any failing bidder or 

 contractor known as such to the Engineer Department, or any bid which is palpably 

 unbalanced or obviously below what the work can be done for, or the bid of any bidder 

 who shall fail to produce, when called upon to do so, evidence satisfactory to the engi- 

 neer officer in charge of the said bidder's ability to do the contemplated work within 

 the required time, including his control of the necessary means and equipment. The 

 failure of a bidder to make satisfactory progress or to complete on time similar work 

 under previous contracts with the United States will be duly considered in canvassing 

 bids, and may be a valid cause for the rejection of his proposal. Reasonable grounds 

 for supposing that any bidder is interested in more than one bid for the same item will 

 cause the rejection of all bids in which he is interested. 



22. The bidder to whom award is made will be required to enter into written 

 contract with the United States, with good and approved security, in an amount of 

 twenty (20) per cent of the amount of his bid, within ten (10) days after being notified 

 of the acceptance of his proposal. The contract which the bidder and guarantors 





