Section 1120.2015  Competitive Sealed Proposals

a)         Conditions for Use

When provided for under the Code or under this Part, or when the IOC determines in writing that the use of competitive sealed bidding is either not practicable or not advantageous to the IOC, a contract may be entered into by competitive sealed proposals.

b)         Request for Proposals (RFP)

Proposals shall be solicited through an RFP.

c)         Public Notice

Public notice of the RFP shall be published in the Bulletin at least 14 days prior to the date set in the RFP for the opening of proposals.

d)         Receipt of Proposals

Proposals shall be opened publically in the presence of one or more witnesses at the time and place designated in the RFP, but proposals shall be opened in a manner to avoid disclosure of contents to competing offerors during the process of negotiation.  A record of proposals shall be prepared and shall be open for public inspection after the contract is awarded.

e)         Evaluation Factors

The RFP shall state the relative importance of price and other evaluation factors.  Proposals shall be submitted in 2 parts: the first covering items except price and the second concerning price.  The first part of all proposals shall be evaluated and ranked independently of the second part of all proposals.

f)         Discussion with Responsible Offerors and Revisions of Proposals

As provided in the RFP and this Part, discussion may be conducted with responsible offerors who submit proposals determined to be reasonably susceptible of being selected for award for the purpose of clarifying and assuring full understanding of and responsiveness to the solicitation requirements.  Those offerors shall be accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion and revision of proposals.  Revisions may be permitted after submission and before award for the purpose of obtaining Best & Final offers.  In conducting discussions, there shall be no disclosure of any information derived from proposals submitted by competing offerors.  If information is disclosed to any offeror, it shall be provided to all competing offerors.

g)         Award

Awards shall be made to the responsible offeror whose proposal is determined in writing to be the most advantageous to the IOC, taking into consideration the price and the evaluation factors set forth in the RFP.  The contract file shall contain the basis on which the award is made.

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 3075 effective March 1, 2013)