lowest qualified bidder

lowest responsible bidder, lowest qualified bidder

The bidder who submits the lowest bona fide bid and is considered to be fully responsible and qualified to perform the work, 1 for which the bid is submitted. In the case of private construction contracts, the decision as to the bidder’s responsibility and qualification usually is made by the owner and the architect. In public contracts, a decision disqualifying a low bidder may have to be made on a reasonable basis rather than an arbitrary one.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.