Addendum / Corrigendum

An addendum (sometimes called a corrigendum) is an official written amendment to a bidding document that a procuring entity issues after the original package has been distributed to potential bidders. Once issued, it has the same legal force as the original document and bidders must incorporate it into their submissions.

What is an Addendum or Corrigendum?

The two terms are often used interchangeably in international procurement, though a corrigendum more precisely refers to a correction of an error, while an addendum can also introduce new or clarifying information. In practice, both appear as numbered supplements - Addendum 1, Addendum 2 - issued in writing by the procuring entity and distributed to all recipients of the original bidding-document. Common triggers include a question raised at a pre-bid-meeting-minutes session, a factual error in the technical-specifications, a change in quantities in the boq, or a deadline extension.

Development-bank-financed procurement requires that any material change to a bidding document be issued to all bidders simultaneously and accompanied by an extension of the submission deadline sufficient to allow bidders to reflect the change. A procuring entity cannot inform only some bidders of a clarification; it must issue a formal addendum to all.

Why Addenda matter for bidders

Failing to incorporate an addendum into a bid submission is one of the most avoidable causes of disqualification. The risk is highest when an addendum arrives close to the submission deadline and the bid team does not have a system to track updates. Every addendum must be acknowledged in the bid - most sbd templates include a form for listing all addenda received - and the content of the addendum must flow through into the technical and financial proposal where relevant. Bidders who download the original bidding document and do not return to the procurement portal for updates before submitting face the real risk of pricing a bill of quantities that has since been revised.

FAQ

How are addenda communicated to bidders?

Procuring entities notify registered recipients by email and publish addenda on the same portal or notice board where the original bidding document was posted. Bidders who obtained the document through an unofficial copy may not receive notifications, which is another reason to always register formally.

Does an addendum always extend the submission deadline?

Not necessarily. Addenda that only correct minor typographical errors or provide neutral clarifications may not extend the deadline. Addenda that change scope, specifications, or quantities in a way that affects bid preparation must be accompanied by a reasonable deadline extension.

What if two addenda contradict each other?

The later-issued addendum prevails. When in doubt, bidders should submit a written clarification request to the procuring entity before the question deadline and obtain a written response, which itself may be issued as another addendum.