Bidder qualifications and confidential questionnaires

Before any prospective bidder shall be entitled to submit any bid required under the provisions of section 3.40.060 , he shall, not less than six calendar days prior to the day designated for opening bids, give written notice to the director of finance of his intention to bid. The director of finance shall satisfy himself of the prospective bidder's financial ability, experience and competence to carry out the terms and conditions of any contract that may be awarded. For this purpose, the director of finance may, in his discretion, require any prospective bidder to submit answers, under oath, to questions contained in a questionnaire, setting forth a complete statement of the experience, competence and financial standing of the prospective bidder. Whenever it appears to the director of finance that any prospective bidder is not fully qualified and able to carry out the terms and conditions of the contract that may be awarded, he may, after affording such prospective bidder notice and an opportunity to be heard, refuse to receive or consider any bid offered by such prospective bidder. All information contained in the answers to questionnaires shall be and remain confidential, and any government officer or employee who knowingly divulges or permits to be divulged any such information to any person not fully entitled thereto shall be subject to penalties as provided by law. Questionnaires so submitted shall be returned to the bidders after having served their purpose. (Ord. 1069 § 1 (part), 1980: prior code § 5-9.4(b))