The pre-bid conference is a forum wherein the procuring office and the prospective bidders meet to discuss the package required for the bid. This is done at least 12 days before the date of bid submission, during which technical and other knowledgeable persons should be present to ensure a thorough discussion. The BAC secretariat is expected to document the minutes of the pre-bid conference, which could also serve as the reference for subsequent preparation of a bid bulletin. The pre-bid conference should not be concluded without the BAC discussing the bid evaluation procedure. A pre-bid conference is required for consulting contracts with approved budget for the contract of at least P1 million.