Which of the following is a key benefit of a bid bond?

A bid bond serves as a guarantee to the project owner that the contractor will fulfill the terms of the bid, particularly if they are awarded the contract. This means that if the contractor fails to meet the requirements or does not proceed with the project after winning the bid, the bond would come into play. The benefit of this assurance is significant for project owners because it mitigates the risk associated with selecting a contractor who may not follow through, promoting confidence that commitments related to the project will be honored.

While other options touch upon aspects of the bidding process, they do not directly address the core function of a bid bond in safeguarding the project owner's interests and ensuring that the chosen contractor is likely to meet their obligations once the contract is awarded.