223.233—Award to highest bidder.
(a)
The Forest Service shall award contracts, permits, or other authorizing instruments for advertised sales as follows:
(1)
The Forest Service will award a special forest products sale to the responsible bidder that submits the highest bid that conforms to the sale conditions in the prospectus.
(2)
If the highest bidder cannot meet the conditions for the sale, as specified in the prospectus, the Forest Service may:
(ii)
Offer the award at the high bid level to the next highest qualified bidder until the award is accepted or refused by all of the conforming bidders.
(iii)
In the event of a tie between two or more responsible high bidders submitting conforming bids, the Forest Service shall award the sale by drawing of lots.
(iv)
If no bids meet the specified conditions in the sale's prospectus, or if there are other irregularities in the bidding process, the Forest Service may reject all bids, and, at its discretion, reoffer the sale.