Which of the following is NOT a type of bid rigging?

The concept of bid rigging involves agreements between competing bidders to manipulate the bidding process, which is considered illegal and unethical. Among the types of bid rigging, you will find practices like bid suppression, where competitors agree not to bid or to withdraw their bids; complementary bidding, where they submit inflated bids to assist a chosen bidder; and market division, where bidders agree to split the market in a way that reduces competition.

Bid exploration is not recognized as a type of bid rigging. It generally refers to reviewing and analyzing bids for various purposes, such as assessing market conditions or preparing for future procurement needs. This activity does not involve collusion among bidders or any sort of manipulation of the bidding process, which makes it fundamentally different from the other options listed. Understanding this distinction is crucial for identifying unethical practices in procurement and ensuring compliance with legal standards.