Section 6.470  Specification Standards

a)         Material and product specifications for construction contracts and construction-related service contracts that may require the delivery of material or products will be used that satisfy the needs of the Department and that are developed in accordance with the following standards.

1)         Material and product specifications will reflect the needs of the Department and will describe the technical or performance requirements necessary to complete the contemplated work.

2)         Brand-name only product specifications, including patented or proprietary products, will not be used, unless:

A)        such products may be procured competitively with equally suitable nonbrand-name products; or

B)        such products are necessary for compatibility with existing facilities; or

C)        no equally suitable alternate exists; or

D)        such products are to be used for research or for a distinctive type of application for experimental purposes.

3)         When more than one product will fulfill the requirements for an item of work and the products are judged by the Department to be of satisfactory quality, and equally acceptable on the basis of engineering analysis and estimated price, the contract specifications may contain or include by reference a qualified products list.

b)         For nonconstruction and nonconstruction-related services contracts, the CPO adopts the standards for specifications established by the CPO-GS.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 16518, effective September 30, 2011)