R105-1-3. General Process

  (1) This rule applies to the procurement and appointment of Outside Counsel, expert witnesses, litigation support services, litigation related consultants, as well as management software and services by the Attorney General.

  (2) In order to properly fulfill the responsibilities of the Office, the procurement of Outside Counsel, expert witnesses, litigation support services, litigation related consultants, and management software and services may require that public notice of a particular procurement not be provided. Public notice of a procurement may only be waived in the event of an emergency procurement or as authorized by the Procurement Code.

  (3) The Attorney General may select Outside Counsel, expert witnesses, professional litigation support services, litigation related consultants, as well as management software and services pursuant to any authorized process under the Utah Procurement Code. In any such selection process, it may be specified that the Outside Counsel is responsible for providing the expert witnesses or other litigation goods and services through the selection process for Outside Counsel and pursuant to the contract provisions with the Attorney General.

  (4) The Attorney General shall comply with the Utah Procurement Code.The Attorney General shall comply with Rule R33 only when necessary to comply with Utah Code, except when Rule R33 is in conflict with or preempted by this Rule R105-1.

  (5) The Attorney General may, in a multistate case involving other states as parties aligned with Utah, elect to enter into a fee sharing agreement in which each state contributes to a litigation fund that is used to purchase expert witnesses and/or other litigation support services including litigation related consultants, as well as management software and services, or through a similar group procurement agreement. The agreement shall be treated collectively as a sole source procurement of all goods and services purchased under the terms of the agreement.

  (6) The Attorney General may, in a multistate case involving other states as parties aligned with Utah, select Outside Counsel jointly with some or all of the other states as a sole source procurement.

  (7) The Attorney General's office shall ensure that the procurement of outside counsel is supported by a determination by the Attorney General that the procurement is in the best interests of the state, in light of available resources of the Attorney General's office.

  (8) The Attorney General's office shall provide for the fair and equitable treatment of all potential providers of outside counsel, expert witnesses, and other litigation support services including, litigation related consultants, as well as management software and services consistent with the limitations and procedures set forth in this Rule R105-1.

  (9) The Attorney General's office shall ensure that fees for outside counsel, whether based on an hourly rate, contingency fee, or other arrangement, are reasonable and do not exceed industry standards.

  (10) The procurement and requirements regarding a Contingency Fee Contract must meet the requirements of this Rule R105-1 and the applicable provisions of the Utah Code.