18-4-302. Methods of source selection -- authorization for alternative procurement methods. (1) Unless otherwise authorized by law, all state contracts for supplies and services must be awarded by a source selection method provided for in this title. Supplies or services offered for sale, lease, or rental by public utilities are exempt from this requirement if the prices of the supplies or services are regulated by the public service commission or other governmental authority.

(2) When the department or another agency opens bids or proposals, if a supplier's current publicly advertised or established catalog price is received at or before the time that the bids or proposals are opened and is less than the bid of the lowest responsible and responsive bidder or offeror or improves upon the conditions for the best proposal received using the same factors and weights included in the proposal, the department or agency may reject all bids and purchase the supply from that supplier without meeting the requirements of 18-4-303 through 18-4-306.

(3) An office supply procured by the department may be purchased by an agency, without meeting the requirements of 18-4-303 through 18-4-306, from a supplier whose publicly advertised price, established catalog price, or discount price offered to the agency is less than the price offered by the department if the office supply conforms in all material respects to the terms, conditions, and quality offered by the department. A state office supply term contract must include a provision by which the contracting parties acknowledge and agree to the provisions of this subsection.

(4) (a) Under rules adopted by the department, an agency may request from the department authorization for an alternative procurement method.

(b) A request for authorization must specify:

(i) the problem to be solved;

(ii) the proposed alternative procurement method;

(iii) the reasons why the alternative procurement method may be more appropriate than a method authorized by law; and

(iv) how competition and fairness will be achieved by the alternative procurement method.

(c) Within 30 days after receiving the request, the department shall:

(i) evaluate the request;

(ii) approve or deny the request; and

(iii) issue a written statement providing the reasons for its decision.

(d) Whenever the department approves a request submitted under this section, the department:

(i) may authorize the alternative procurement method on a trial basis; and

(ii) if the alternative procurement method is employed, shall make a written determination as to the success of the method.

(e) If the department determines that the alternative procurement method is successful and should be an alternative that is generally available, it shall promulgate rules that establish the use of the alternative procurement method as an additional source selection method. The rules promulgated by the department under this subsection must reflect the purposes described in 18-4-122.