In all cases it should be clear to all parties that the Owner's resources provide information to assist the bidder in the construction of the bid; however, at all times the bid remains with the bidders.
If an Owner's Team (as in Option 1B) or a subject matter expert works with two Proponent bid teams, there is a need to ensure that both they and each Proponent team have a good understanding of their respective roles. It should be clear that all such crossover resources are there to provide information to assist the bidder in the construction of the bid, however, at all times the bid remains the bidder's and that the Owner's crossover resources do not cross the line and become a member of the bid team. They must remain outside and not of the team. This is important as a crossover individual or team cannot be a member of two competing teams; and an individual must not form a basis as to who should win outside of the confides of the tender selection criteria and tender selection process.
This can be a difficult assignment for an individual to perform as it is necessary to:
• keep separate in their own mind the underpinnings and nature of the offerings of the two bid teams to ensure that information obtained in working with one bid team is not inadvertently transferred to the other bidder; and
• potentially have two different solutions in their mind and in tasks they undertake and ensure they do not inadvertently allow knowledge of one bidder's solution to influence interaction with the other.