Winning a tender may start a contract-formation process rather than complete it. The successful bidder may need to sign and return a written contract, provide performance security and wait for any required Cabinet review before the contract enters into force.
The exact solicitation and procurement class control. Do not use one works-document deadline as a universal rule.
Check whether a written contract is required
Where the solicitation requires a written procurement contract, the Procurement Act requires both parties to sign within a reasonable period after dispatch of the acceptance notice.
Subject to Cabinet review, the contract enters into force when both the supplier or contractor and the procuring entity sign it.
Check for Cabinet review
If the solicitation stipulates Cabinet review, the contract does not enter into force before that review is completed.
An acceptance notice or bidder announcement should not be treated as permission to begin performance where the required formation conditions are incomplete.
Identify the class-specific signing interval
The controlled standard works documents use a seven-day interval for return of the signed contract after receipt of the notice and form. High-value goods documents contain their own stated return and security terms.
These clauses apply within their documented classes. The Act itself uses a reasonable-period rule for the required written-contract branch rather than one universal numeric interval.
Confirm whether performance security is required
Performance security is conditional: the solicitation and standard document determine whether it is required, its form and its amount.
Prepare the issuing institution, wording, amount, validity and delivery route early. A security that does not match the solicitation may not satisfy the award condition.
Preserve the works-document deadline conflict
The reviewed works-below-GYD-7-million and works-GYD-7-million-to-15-million standards contain an internal conflict. The instruction uses seven days for performance security, while the Letter of Acceptance template uses fifteen days.
No single exact deadline should be presented as controlling without clarification from the procuring entity and review of the issued solicitation.
Consequences of failure
If the accepted bidder fails to sign a required written contract or provide required security, the Procurement Act provides for referral back to the Evaluation Committee to determine the second lowest evaluated tender, subject to the procuring entity’s rights.
The standard documents also state class-specific consequences. Do not assume an informal extension has changed the tender documents unless it is properly documented.
Post-award checklist
- Record the acceptance-notice dispatch and receipt dates.
- Confirm the procurement class and incorporated standard document.
- Identify the signing deadline and authorised signatories.
- Check Cabinet-review language.
- Confirm whether performance security is required.
- Match the security wording, issuer, amount and validity to the solicitation.
- Obtain written clarification of any deadline conflict.
- Preserve proof of contract and security delivery.
- Confirm entry into force before beginning performance.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating the award notice as the signed contract.
- Applying a seven-day works rule to every procurement.
- Ignoring the works seven-day/fifteen-day conflict.
- Assuming performance security is always required or always the same amount.
- Beginning work before Cabinet review or contract entry into force.
- Relying on an undocumented verbal extension.
Official sources
- NPTA — Procurement Act and Regulations
- Works below GYD 7M standard document
- Works GYD 7M–15M standard document
- Works GYD 15M and above standard document
- NPTA — Standard goods documents
Related Invest Guyana guides and explainers
- How to Register on Guyana’s NPTA Register of Bidders
- How to Get GRA and NIS Tender Compliance Certificates
Editorial note
This guide provides general procurement information, not legal advice or a deadline for a particular award. The issued solicitation, acceptance notice and written clarifications control.
