Sec. 1. (a) All bids shall be sealed in an envelope when submitted to the division.
(b) The division shall open bids in public and read them aloud at the time and place designated in the instructions. Contractors and all other members of the public are entitled to attend bid openings. Before contractors and other members of the public are permitted to inspect and copy bids, the division shall copy the bids as required by IC 4-13.6-5-9.
(c) The division may not require any contractor to submit its bid at any time earlier than the time specified in the instructions for opening of bids.