system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What does untendered contracts mean? Why is it such a huge scandal when uncovered?

TIA.
gpt
It means the contract was just handed to someone without comparing their offer with other potential offers. It means that you almost certainly haven't got the best value for money. It usually means that the deal was corrupt to a greater or lesser extent - eg the contract went to a relative or friend or someone who paid a bribe.