Unless justification has been provided and approved for a specific brand, model, etc., solicitations will be requested allowing "equal alternate material" to be bid in order to encourage competition. If vendors submit bids for a product or service different from that specified, a determination must be made if the alternate item is an equal substitution. The vendor must provide sufficient product information for the user to evaluate the alternate item. If not awarding to the low bidder, justification for not accepting the low bid must be documented.
When comparing bids/quotes, the following elements will be considered: price (discount), conformity with ORIGINAL specifications, delivery date (if specified), freight charges, and special preferences (Minority Business Enterprises receive a 5% price preference and Sheltered Workshops receive a 2% price preference in competitive bidding). Read more . . .
