Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024
The department shall select a vendor on the basis of criteria contained in the competitive selection document.
(1)Intent to award. After evaluating responses to a solicitation using formal competition, the department shall notify each vendor submitting a response to the solicitation of its intent to award to a particular vendor or vendors subject to execution of a written contract(s). Documentation of awards for solicitations using informal competition will be made available to interested parties upon request. This notice of intent to award does not constitute the formation of a contract(s) between the state and successful vendor(s). If a vendor is not registered on the vendor on-line system and does not provide an E-mail address or fax number, the notice will be mailed.(2)Rejection of bids. The department reserves the right to reject any or all responses to solicitations at any time for any reason. New bids may be requested at a time deemed convenient to the department and agency involved.(3)Minor deficiencies and informalities. The department reserves the right to waive minor deficiencies and informalities if, in the judgment of the department, the best interest of the state of Iowa will be served.(4)Tied bids.a. Whenever a tie involves an Iowa vendor and a vendor outside the state of Iowa, the Iowa vendor will receive preference. Whenever a tie involves one or more Iowa vendors and one or more vendors outside the state of Iowa, the drawing will be held among the Iowa vendors only. Tied bids involving Iowa-produced or Iowa-manufactured products and items produced or manufactured outside the state of Iowa will be resolved in favor of the Iowa product.b. In the event of a tied bid between Iowa vendors, the department shall contact the Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) committee for confirmation and verification as to whether the vendors have complied with ESGR standards. Preference, in the case of a tied bid, shall be given to Iowa vendors complying with ESGR standards.c. An award shall be determined by a drawing when responses are received that are equal in all respects and tied in price. Whenever it is practical to do so, the drawing will be held in the presence of the vendors who are tied in price. Otherwise the drawing will be made in front of at least three noninterested parties. All drawings shall be documented.(5)Consideration of life cycle costs. When appropriate to the procurement, life cycle costs shall be considered during the award process.(6)Trade-ins. When applicable and in the best interest of the state, the department may trade in devices or services to offset the cost of devices or services in a manner consistent with procurement practices to ensure accountability with the state's fixed asset inventory system.Iowa Admin. Code r. 11-105.12