Answer

No, the bid amounts as submitted may not be changed. Because of the issues involved, the public entity likely has just cause for rejecting all bids and rebidding the project if it chooses to do so. Unless the winning lowest responsible bidder seeks to withdraw their bid, they must adhere to their total bid amount submitted and the public entity may execute a contract at the submitted total bid price. R.S. 38:2214(C) authorizes a bidder to withdraw their bid in cases of obvious, unintentional, and substantial mechanical, clerical, or mathematical errors. However, if the bidder withdraws their bid under this provision, they are prohibited from resubmitting a bid and the next lowest bid may be accepted. R.S. 38:2214(D). If the public entity elects to reject all bids and rebid the project, the current bidders may submit new bids. Louisiana Legislative Auditor website: 06/22/2026 08:25:28 PM