What is the term for a last-minute change made before a contract is awarded?

The term for a last-minute change made before a contract is awarded is known as an addendum. An addendum serves to modify, clarify, or add terms to the original contract documents. This is particularly relevant in the context of contracts because it allows parties to include necessary adjustments or additional information that might not have been included initially, ensuring that all parties are in agreement before the contract is finalized.

The use of an addendum is critical in the contracting process, especially since it can address specific issues or concerns raised during the bidding or negotiation process. By utilizing an addendum, all potential bidders or parties involved have the chance to review the changes, which promotes transparency and fairness.

In contrast, other terms like amendment typically refer to formal changes that alter existing agreements after they are already in effect, rather than changes proposed prior to the awarding of a contract. A supplement generally adds on additional information that may not specifically alter the existing terms, and a revision often indicates a more in-depth editing or reworking of the document itself rather than a simple addition or clarification. Thus, the term addendum is the most appropriate for describing last-minute changes made before a contract award.