Section 650.10  Purpose

a)         The purpose of this Part is to establish policies and procedures to allow the Illinois Department of Transportation (the Department) to fulfill its obligations to award all construction and maintenance contracts to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder by prequalifying contractors to determine their responsibility.

b)         A prequalification rating grants neither a license to do business nor a right to bid on or to be awarded a Department contract.  It is a preliminary determination of the responsibility of a bidder, who is otherwise in compliance with the procurement rules of the Department, to do the work of a construction or maintenance contract advertised by the Department. Contractors prequalified by this Part may also be used by units of local government on contracts approved for letting and award by the Department.