Section 610.340  Regional Contracts

a)         The  Department  may award  a  contract  for all  emergency  projects arising  within  a  particular   geographical  region  and  within  a particular period of time.  Such  regional contracts shall be bid out by means of an IFB submitted to all vendors on the bid list.

b)         After determining the  best proposal the Department  shall attempt to negotiate a contract with the vendor making such bid.

c)         The IFB shall contain the following information:

1)         The counties to be covered by the proposed regional contract.

2)         The work  generally to  be performed  under each  emergency well plugging project and each emergency remedial work project.

3)         The manner in which a vendor must make its proposal.

4)         The date, time and place where the proposals are to be opened.

5)         The terms  that the Department  intends to incorporate  into the ultimate contract for completion of the project.

d)         Vendors  currently on  the Department's  prequalified bid  list shall receive a  copy of  the IFB.   The Department  shall also  notify the public by posting a notice in  the state newspaper as provided in the CMS Standard  Procurement Rules.  Any  vendor, whether or not  on the bid list,  may upon specific request  receive a copy of  a particular IFB.

e)         Bids shall be evaluated on the basis  either of the price bid for the entire project  or the unit  prices, whichever is  applicable.  Where proposed unit  prices are solicited, such  as for bags of  cement and hours of  rig time,  the Department  shall evaluate  each bid  on the basis of  the anticipated number  of units  to complete a  given well plugging  and lease  site restoration  in determining  which proposal offers the  lowest expected price.  The  responsible vendor proposing the lowest  expected price shall  be determined as offering  the best responsible proposal.

f)         After determining the  best proposal the Department  shall attempt to negotiate a contract with the vendor making such proposal.