Which information should be included in the RFQ regarding communication with the selection team?

• A. Restrictions on communications with selection team members
• B. Full access to all project emails
• C. Public posting of all questions and answers
• D. Notification of all respondents' rankings

Answer: (A)

Controlling who talks to the decision-makers and how conversations happen is essential to keep the RFQ process fair and auditable. By including restrictions on communications with the selection team, the document sets clear boundaries that prevent ex parte discussions, reduce the risk of improper influence, and ensure that all respondents have access to information through a controlled, uniform process. This helps maintain confidentiality of sensitive deliberations, preserves the integrity of the evaluation, and provides a traceable record of communications.

Full access to all project emails would expose sensitive information and overwhelm both the team and respondents, which undermines confidentiality. Public posting of all questions and answers could violate privacy and procurement rules and is not typically required or appropriate. Notification of all respondents’ rankings would reveal evaluative judgments and could lead to disputes or manipulation before the award. Therefore, restricting communications is the best approach to protect fairness and transparency in the RFQ.