Q. Is there a rule against extending the proposal due date of an RFP after the original due date?
A. There are no Federal rules per se that would apply to grantees' decisions to extend the due date for proposals under a negotiated procurement. FTA third-party contracting requirements as set forth in FTA Circular 4220.1E, paragraph 9c(2)(c), do prescribe rules for the opening of bids "at the time and place prescribed in the IFB," but there are no requirements stated for RFP's in FTA Circular 4220.1E.
We do not know the circumstances that led to the extension of the proposal due date, but since the extension was made after the original due date had already passed, and some proposals had already been received (yours for one), we would think that the grantee would not accept proposals from companies that did not submit on-time proposals per the November 29 due date. We would think it improper and unfair to extend the due date to accommodate a late proposal. Assuming this did not take place, then all of the original offerors are being treated equally and we would not see any issue of unfairness.
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