R33-12-301. Awarding Multiple Award Contracts

  (1) A multiple award contract is a procurement process where two or more bidders or offerors are awarded a contract under a single solicitation. Purchases are made through an order placed with a vendor on multiple award contract pursuant to the procedures established in R33-12-301.2, ordering from a multiple award contract.

  (2) As authorized under Section 63G-6a-1204.5, the division or a procurement unit with independent procurement authority may enter into multiple award contracts.

  (3) A multiple award contract may be awarded under a single solicitation when two or more bidders or offerors for similar procurement items are needed for:

  (a) Coverage on a statewide, regional, combined statewide and regional basis, agency specific requirement, or other criteria specified in the solicitation such as:

  (i) delivery;

  (ii) service;

  (iii) product availability; or

  (iv) Compatibility with existing equipment or infrastructure.

  (4) In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 63G-6a-603 and Section 63G-6a-703, when it is anticipated that a procurement will result in multiple contract awards, the solicitation shall include a statement that:

  (a) Indicates that contracts may be awarded to more than one bidder or offeror;

  (b) Specifies whether contracts will be awarded on a statewide, regional, combined statewide and regional basis, or agency specific requirement; and

  (c) Describes specific methodology or a formula that will be used to determine the number of contract awards.

  (5) Multiple award contracts in an invitation for bids shall be conducted and awarded in accordance with Utah Code 63G-6a, Part 6 to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder(s) who meet the objective criteria described in the invitation for bids and may be awarded to provide adequate regional, statewide, or combined regional and statewide coverage, agency specific requirement, or delivery, or product availability using the following methods:

  (a) lowest bids for all procurement items solicited provided the solicitation indicates that multiple contracts will be awarded to the lowest bidders for all procurement items being solicited as determined by the following methods:

  (i) all bids within a specified percentage, not to exceed five percent, of the lowest responsive and responsible bid, unless otherwise approved in writing by the chief procurement officer or head of a procurement unit with independent procurement authority;

  (ii) all responsive and responsible bidders will be awarded a contract, provided the contract specifically directs that orders must be placed first with low bidder unless the lowest bidder cannot provide the needed procurement item, then with the second lowest bidder unless the second lowest bidder cannot provide the needed procurement item, then with the third lowest bidder unless the third lowest bidder cannot provide the needed procurement item, and so on in order from the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to the highest responsive and responsible bidder; or

  (iii) other methodology described in the solicitation to award contracts;

  (b) lowest bid by Category provided:

  (i) the solicitation indicates that a contract will be awarded based on the lowest bid per category;

  (ii) only one bidder may be awarded a contract per category;

  (c) lowest bid by line item provided:

  (i) the solicitation indicates that a contract will be awarded based on the lowest bid per line item, task or service;

  (ii) only one bidder may be awarded a contract per line item, task or service; or

  (d) Other specific objective methodology described in the solicitation, such as R33-12-302 for primary and secondary contracts, approved by the chief procurement officer or head of a procurement unit with independent procurement authority.

  (6) Multiple award contracts in a request for proposals shall be conducted and awarded in accordance with Utah Code 63G-6a, Part 7 and may be awarded on a statewide, regional, combination statewide and regional basis, agency specific requirement, or other criteria set forth in the solicitation and in accordance with point thresholds and other methodology set forth in the RFP describing how multiple award contracts will be awarded with enough specificity as to avoid the appearance of any favoritism affecting the decision of whether to award a multiple contract and who should receive a multiple award contract.