Two contractors are being scored on a municipal bid, and one evaluator owns stock in one of the firms. What should happen?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Owning stock in a bidder while scoring that bid is a classic conflict of interest. Disclose it and step aside—fairness means the evaluation has to look clean and be clean.
Full Explanation
Fairness requires disclosing conflicts of interest and recusing from decisions where personal financial interest could bias judgment. Municipal bid evaluation depends on impartial scoring so the public can trust the award. Remaining silent, favoring the investment, or awarding both contracts to sidestep the choice fails ethical procurement practice. Documented disclosure and recusal protect both the process and the evaluator.