What method of vendor selection involves sealed bids?

The method of vendor selection that involves sealed bids is competitive sealed bidding. This procurement process is characterized by the submission of bids in a sealed format, ensuring confidentiality and fairness. During a competitive sealed bidding process, suppliers submit their bids without knowledge of their competitors' proposals. Once the submission period closes, the sealed bids are opened in a public forum, allowing for transparency in the evaluation.

This method is particularly utilized in public sector purchasing to ensure that contracts are awarded based on objective criteria, thereby fostering competition and potentially leading to better pricing for the purchasing entity. The entire process is governed by specific regulations that ensure compliance and integrity, making it the preferred approach for significant purchases where the goal is to obtain the best value through comprehensive evaluation of submitted bids.

In contrast, other options like emergency contracts may bypass typical bidding processes due to urgent needs, competitive quotes typically involve informal price comparisons rather than sealed submissions, and proprietary selections are reserved for unique products or services where competitive bidding may not be practical.