When is it determined if a proposal is responsive?

A proposal is determined to be responsive at the time of opening the proposal. This is a critical stage where the focus is on whether the proposal meets the basic requirements and stipulations set forth in the solicitation documents. Responsiveness assesses if the proposal complies with the essential conditions, terms, and specifications outlined in the request for proposals (RFP) or invitation to bid.

Establishing responsiveness at this point allows procurement officials to determine whether the proposal can proceed to the evaluation phase for further consideration. It ensures that only those proposals that adhere to the required criteria are evaluated, thereby streamlining the procurement process.

The other options reflect moments in the procurement process that do not pertain directly to the initial assessment of the proposal's compliance with the solicitation requirements. For example, evaluating proposals comes after the initial opening and responsiveness check. Determining responsiveness before solicitation or after the contract award is not viable since these actions depend on the structured process where initial compliance is assessed as proposals are opened.