At the end of a competitive bid, keep more than one service provider on the line

It seems extravagant (of time) and duplicitous (of integrity) at the end of a competitive bid to negotiate simultaneously with more than one law firm. Yet the ACC Docket, Vol. 25, Sept. 2007 at 43, offers some language to enable your department to do so, albeit in the context of contractual negotiations. “While we would very much like to seriously consider moving forward at this time with you, we are also pursuing a similar form of contract with an alternative vendor in order to receive their reaction as well.” If competition is the goal of an RFP process, have at it!