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Understanding Key Elements of Bidding [Exercise A]
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Day 8, Question 6.
The answer seems wrong. The scenario suggests the owner invited two contractors for their reputation and quality, suggesting the owner’s preference. The big also requires a fixed fee, meaning cost is considered. Therefore, it is a combination of different factors, which matches VBS better than QBS.
Welcome to the Black Spectacles Community @nigel.yang! Thank you for your question.
This is a great example of how the ARE requires you to select the most correct answer among multiple (seemingly correct) answer choices. While the bid required a fixed fee, the scenario emphasizes the owner’s focus on qualifications: successful completion of past projects and high standards. Requiring bidders to submit a fee does not automatically make the process VBS. Owners often request pricing information even when qualifications are the primary basis for selection. Since the scenario provides multiple clues pointing to contractor experience, reputation, and qualifications, but no indication that price was being weighted against those factors, QBS remains the most correct answer for this scenario.
Hope this helps!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Product Coordinator
Black Spectacles