In sealed bidding, when does the offer occur and who accepts it?

In sealed bidding, the offer occurs at the moment when the contractor submits their bid in accordance with the terms set forth in the solicitation. This submission represents the contractor's formal offer to the government to provide the requested goods or services at the proposed price. The process involves the contractor completing a bid which includes all required documentation and pricing.

Once the bid is submitted, it is not considered an acceptance until the government reviews and chooses to accept it by signing the contract. This process ensures that all bids are evaluated fairly without influencing them through prior discussions or negotiations. Therefore, the government must sign the bid to accept the contractor's offer, formalizing the agreement.

This understanding reinforces the importance of the sealed bidding process, which aims to create a transparent and competitive environment for contractors while ensuring the government receives the best offer. The other choices describe scenarios that do not align with the formal procedures defined in sealed bidding.