Alternate Bidding Procedures. Redundancy is the most effective way to mitigate technical and human issues during an auction. Bidders should strongly consider authorizing more than one individual to bid in the auction—and confirming during the mock auction that each individual is able to access the auction system. A 4G card or other form of wireless access is helpful in case a company’s main internet connection should fail. As a last resort, an authorized individual facing technical issues may request to submit its bid by telephone. In order to be authorized to place a telephone bid, an authorized individual must call the help desk number listed in the auction manual before the end of the round. BOEM will authenticate the caller’s identity, including requiring the caller to provide a code from the software token. The caller must also explain the reasons why a telephone bid needs to be submitted. BOEM may, in its sole discretion, permit or refuse to accept a request for the placement of a bid using this alternate telephonic bidding procedure.
Alternate Bidding Procedures. Redundancy is the most effective way to mitigate technical and human issues during an auction. Bidders should strongly consider authorizing more than one individual to bid in the auction—and confirming during the mock auction that each individual is able to access the auction system. A 4G card or other form of wireless access is helpful in case a company’s main internet connection should fail. As a last resort, an authorized individual facing technical issues may request to submit its bid by telephone. In order to be authorized to place a telephone bid, an authorized individual must call the help desk number listed in the auction manual before the end of the round. BOEM will authenticate the caller’s identity, including requiring the caller to provide a code from the software token. The caller must also explain the reasons why a telephone bid must be submitted. BOEM may, in its sole discretion, permit or refuse to accept a request for the placement of a bid using this alternate bidding procedure.
Alternate Bidding Procedures. Redundancy is the most effective way to mitigate technical and human issues during an auction. Bidders should strongly consider authorizing more than one individual to bid in the auction and confirm during the Mock Auction that each authorized individual is able to access the auction system. A 4G card or other form of wireless access may prove helpful if the bidder’s primary internet connection should fail. As a last resort, an authorized individual facing technical issues may request to submit its bid by telephone. To be authorized to place a telephone bid, an authorized individual must call the help desk number listed in the auction manual before the end of the round. BOEM will authenticate the caller’s identity. The caller must also explain the reasons why a telephone bid is necessary. BOEM may, in its sole discretion, permit or refuse to accept a request for the placement of a bid using this alternate telephonic bidding procedure. The auction help desk requires codes from the Google Authenticator app as part of its procedure for identifying individuals who call for assistance. Prior to the auction, all individuals listed on the BFF should download the Google AuthenticatorTM mobile app3 onto their smartphone or tablet.4 The first time the individual logs into the auction system, the system will provide a QR token to be read into the Google AuthenticatorTM app. This token is unique to the individual and enables the Google AuthenticatorTM app to generate time-sensitive codes that will be recognized by the auction system. When an individual calls the auction help desk, the current code from the app must be provided to the help desk representative as part of the user authentication process. BOEM will provide information on this process on its website.
Alternate Bidding Procedures. It would be the responsibility of the bidder to ensure it has a working internet connection and backup procedures in place in case its internet connection is disrupted during the auction. Such backup procedures may include redundant internet connections, multiple individuals authorized to place bids on behalf of the company, geographically dispersing individuals who are authorized to bid (with different internet connections), or placing bids using a mobile data connection. The bidder would be responsible for testing its backup procedures ahead of time. This could be done during the mock auction, for example.
Alternate Bidding Procedures. Any bidder who is unable to place a bid using the online auction should follow these instructions: • Call BOEM/the BOEM Auction Manager at the help desk number that is listed in the Auction Manual before the end of the round. • BOEM will authenticate the caller to ensure he/she is authorized to bid on behalf of the company. • Explain the problem. • BOEM may, in its sole discretion, accept a bid using the Alternative Bidding Procedure. • The Alternative Bidding Procedure enables a bidder who is having difficulties accessing the Internet to submit its bid via an Alternative Bidding Form that can be faxed to the auction manager. o If the bidder has not placed a bid, but calls BOEM before the end of the round and notifies BOEM that it is preparing a bid using the Alternate Bidding Procedure, and submits the Alternate Bidding Form by fax before the round ends, BOEM will likely accept the bid, though acceptance or rejection of the bid is within XXXX’s sole discretion. o If the bidder calls during the round, but does not submit the bid until after the round ends (but before the round is posted), BOEM may or may not accept the bid, in part based on how much time remains in the recess. Bidders are strongly encouraged to submit the Alternative Bidding Form before the round ends. o If the bidder calls during the recess following the round, but before the previous round’s results have been posted, BOEM will likely reject its bid, even if it has otherwise complied with all of XXXX’s Alternate Bidding Procedures. o If the bidder calls to enter a bid after results have been posted, XXXX will reject the bid. Bidders are held accountable for all bids placed during the auction. This is true if they continued bidding in the last round, if they placed an Exit Bid, or if they stopped bidding during the auction.
