Invited bid description: Competitive bid with specifically qualified contractors.

• A. Competitive bid open to all bidders
• B. The lowest bid wins regardless of qualifications
• C. A single contractor is selected without competitive bidding
• D. A formal restricted tender limited to pre-qualified bidders

Answer: (D)

Invited bid describes a restricted tender where only contractors who meet specified qualifications are allowed to bid. This approach combines competition with assurance that bidders have the capabilities needed for the project; bids come from pre-qualified firms, and among those firms the selection is based on value or compliance, not simply the fear of being unqualified. The option that matches this description is the formal restricted tender limited to pre-qualified bidders. Open to all bidders would be a general competitive bid, not invited. The lowest bid wins regardless of qualifications ignores the prequalification step. Selecting a single contractor without competition describes a sole-source procurement, which isn’t competitive bidding.