R23-1-2406. Bias Participation Prohibitions

  (1) Division employees are prohibited from participating in any and all discussions or decisions relating to the procurement, contracting or administration process if they have a bias that would appear to a reasonable person to influence their independence in performing their assigned duties and responsibilities relating to the procurement process, contracting or contract administration or prevent them from fairly and objectively evaluating a proposal in response to a bid, RFP or other solicitation. This provision shall not be construed to prevent an employee from having a bias based on the employee's review of a response to the solicitation in regard to the criteria in the solicitation.

  (2) If an executive branch employee has an impermissible bias under Rule R23-1-2406(1) above regarding an individual, group, organization, or vendor responding to a bid, RFP or other solicitation, the employee must make a written disclosure to the supervisor and the supervisor shall take appropriate action, which may include recusing the employee from any and all discussions or decisions relating to the solicitation, contracting or administration matter in question. This provision shall not be construed to prevent an employee from having a bias based on the employee's review of a response to the solicitation in regard to the criteria in the solicitation.