Start by preheating the oven to 350 F. Line a 13x9 baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving a little overhang so you can lift bars out later. Lightly grease the foil.
Combine 2 tablespoons of sugar in a small bowl with the cranberries and set aside.
Combine 2 cups of the flour, baking soda, oats, sugar, and brown sugar.
Stir in melted butter until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of this mixture and set aside.
Press remaining mixture into bottom of the baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle with dates, pecans, and the cranberry mixture.
Stir the caramel sauce and the remaining 1/3 cup flour together until smooth, spoon over cranberries.
Sprinkle with the reserved 1 cup flour mixture. Bake an additional 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cool on a wire rack. Lift out of pan with foil overhang. Cut into bars.
Notes
These bars transport nicely, just put waxed paper in between layers in a covered container.