What is the ethical concern with changing a bid based on another engineer's offer?

The ethical concern with changing a bid based on another engineer's offer primarily revolves around the potential for fostering unethical negotiation practices. When an engineer adjusts a bid in response to information about a competitor's offer, it can lead to a range of issues, such as collusion or price-fixing. This practice undermines the integrity of the competitive bidding process, which is meant to ensure that contracts are awarded based on merit and value rather than manipulation or unethical strategies.

In engineering ethics, maintaining a fair and open competitive environment is crucial for advancing standards and ensuring that projects are completed with fairness and professionalism. By engaging in practices that compromise this integrity, an engineer risks not only their own reputation but also the overall trust in the engineering profession. Therefore, responding to another engineer's bid by manipulating one's own offer raises significant ethical concerns and can jeopardize the ethical foundations upon which the profession stands.