Number of Contractors; Use of Subcontractors

Section 605 Section 605.20  Number of Contractors; Use of Subcontractors a)         The Agency shall initiate contract negotiations with the single proposer or joint venture that has submitted the overall contract proposal that best conforms to the standards specified in this Part.  However, if, based on the criteria stated in this Part, the Agency determines that none of the proposals submitted will serve the interests of the State of Illinois, as stated in Section 2 of the Act, the Agency shall not be required to accept any of the proposals.  A time limit of one hundred and eighty (180) days has been established as the allowable negotiation period.  If the negotiations are not completed within this period, the Agency may extend the negotiation period with the selected proposer.  Furthermore, if a contract cannot be negotiated with the first proposer selected, the Agency may either initiate contract negotiations with another proposer or reissue the Request for Proposals.  The Agency reserves the right to terminate negotiations prior to the end of the negotiation period or extend the negotiations. b)         When evaluating proposals, the Agency shall consider the proposed use of subcontractors and consultants.  Specifically, the Agency shall determine, based on the criteria set out in this Part, whether the proposed use of subcontractors and consultants will further the interests of the State of Illinois, as stated in Section 2 of the Act.  The Agency shall not select any proposal that calls for the subcontracting of facility operation. Subcontractors will be evaluated against the same standards as contractors, but only to the extent that the standards apply to the specific responsibilities assigned to the subcontractor as set out in the proposal.