Which action is not a way to prevent bid shopping?

Placing a time limit on bid acceptance does not directly prevent bid shopping. Bid shopping occurs when a contractor tries to obtain lower bids from subcontractors after receiving an accepted bid, often by leveraging the lower prices obtained from competing bidders. Setting a time limit on how long a bid remains valid can indeed streamline the bidding process and encourage prompt decision-making, but it does not address the core issue of bid shopping.

On the other hand, communicating with bidders regularly helps establish relationships and trust, reducing the motivation to shop around. Reviewing bids transparently allows all parties to understand the bidding process and the rationale behind selected bids, which can deter unethical practices like bid shopping. Restricting access to bid information can prevent certain bidders from exploiting information that could lead to bid shopping, as it limits the knowledge some bidders might have about competing offers. Each of these methods, in contrast to placing a time limit, directly aims to reduce or eliminate the opportunities for bid shopping in the construction process.