Section 756.116  Commission Approval of Proposal

a)         If, after evaluating all proposals, the ITAC Board determines that it is able to accept a proposal, it shall file a petition with the Commission seeking approval of the proposal.  As part of the petition, the ITAC Board shall attach testimony supporting this determination and explaining the rationale for its selection.  The Commission shall set the matter for a pre-hearing conference within 21 days of the filing of the petition.

b)         The ITAC Board shall serve a copy of the petition and the supporting testimony on the Advisory Council and the Staff Liaison at the time of the filing with the Commission.

c)         Based upon the requirements of the Act, this Part, and the RFP, the Commission shall either:

1)         Approve the ITAC selection and direct the Board to accept the proposal. The Commission shall approve the selection if the proposal has been shown to meet the relay service program standards and specifications of this Part and to be the most cost-effective method of providing the service, as required by Section 13-703 of the Act;

2)         Deny the ITAC selection and specify another proposal that the ITAC shall be directed to accept because it meets the relay service program standards and specification of this Part and it is the most cost-effective method of providing the service; or

3)         Deny the ITAC selection and direct the Board to develop and issue a new RFP, to reissue its prior RFP, or to request any and all bidders to supplement their proposals to conform to the RFP.

d)         The Commission shall issue an order on the petition for approval within 150 days after the date of filing of ITAC's petition.

(Source:  Added at 17 Ill. Reg. 12294, effective July 15, 1993)