Within how many days after the opening date of a bid, proposal, or quote must classified information be returned or destroyed if the bid was not submitted or withdrawn?

Within how many days after the opening date of a bid, proposal, or quote must classified information be returned or destroyed if the bid was not submitted or withdrawn?

• A. 180 days
• B. 90 days
• C. 365 days
• D. 2 years

Answer: (A)

Classified information related to bids that aren’t submitted or are withdrawn must be returned or destroyed within 180 days after the bid opening. This six-month window helps limit security risk by ensuring material isn’t kept longer than necessary, while still allowing adequate time to complete any required administrative steps. A shorter period could rush proper handling, whereas a longer period unnecessarily increases the chance of exposure.

Classified information related to bids that aren’t submitted or are withdrawn must be returned or destroyed within 180 days after the bid opening. This six-month window helps limit security risk by ensuring material isn’t kept longer than necessary, while still allowing adequate time to complete any required administrative steps. A shorter period could rush proper handling, whereas a longer period unnecessarily increases the chance of exposure.