Section 805-RICR-00-00-1.10 - Additional MattersA. Small and Disadvantaged Businesses. The Chief Purchasing Officer shall, to the extent practicable, encourage small businesses and small disadvantaged businesses to bid for contracts to be awarded by the Commission.B. Goods Produced in the Republic of South Africa. In conformity with the policy of divestment established in R.I. Gen. Laws § 35-10-12, the Commission shall refrain from the purchase of any goods which are known to be wholly produced in the Republic of South Africa. Such goods are those which are in their final form for use or consumption without additional processing, assembly, or manufacturing. Further, the Commission will give preference in its purchasing to companies which, to the Commission's knowledge, do not do business in, or with, the Republic of South Africa.C. Equal Employment Opportunity. For all contracts for supplies and services exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), contractors must comply with the requirements of federal Executive Order 11246, as amended, and R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5.2-10, and other regulations as issued by the Purchasing Agent and administered by the Equal Opportunity Office. Failure to comply will be considered a substantial breach of the contract subject to penalties prescribed in such regulations.D. Conflict of Interest. No member or employee of the Commission shall have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in any activity which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his or her duties as a member or employee of the Commission.E. Legal Counsel 1. Before the Commission arranges for the services of an attorney, it shall determine the following: a. The need for the services required, including the scope of the services to be performed;b. That no legal personnel employed by the State on a full-time basis are available to perform such services;c. That funding is available, and the sources from which such funding is to be provided;d. That attorneys to be engaged meet the following minimum requirements: (1) appropriate professional licensing;(2) competence to perform such services as reflected by formal training and education, general experience and experience in providing the required services, and the qualifications and competence of persons who would be assigned to perform the services;(3) ability to perform the services as reflected by workload and availability of adequate personnel, equipment and facilities to perform the services expeditiously.2. The attorney shall enter into a letter of engagement with the Commission. The letter of engagement shall state the rate of compensation, the scope of the services to be performed for the compensation and provision for the payment of expenses incurred in connection with legal services. The letter of engagement shall certify that the rate of compensation does not exceed the rate of compensation charged by counsel to his or her preferred public or private clients. A letter of engagement shall not be for more than one (1) year.3. The Commission may renew or extend the letter of engagement of an attorney previously engaged by the Commission pursuant to the provisions of these procurement regulations without utilizing the methods of source selection set forth in § 1.5.1 of this Part.805 R.I. Code R. 805-RICR-00-00-1.10