All solicitations of offers, whether by competitive sealed bids or competitive quotes in the open market, shall be prepared as follows.
(A) Technical requirements. All such solicitations shall incorporate a clear and accurate description of the technical requirements for the material product or service to be procured. Such description shall not, in competitive procurements, contain features which unduly restrict competition. The description may include a statement of the qualitative nature of the material, product or service to be procured and, when necessary, shall set forth those minimum essential characteristics and standards to which it must conform to satisfy its intended use.
(B) Brand name or equal descriptions. When it is impractical or uneconomical to make a clear and accurate description of the technical requirements in a solicitation, a “brand name or equal” description may be used as a means to define the performance or other salient requirements of a procurement. The specific features of the named brand which must be met by offerors shall be clearly stated. The Director of Purchasing shall have final authority to determine whether supplies meet such a “brand name or equal” description.
(C) Requests for proposals. Requests for proposals, where utilized, shall identify all significant evaluation factors, including price or cost where required and their relative importance, and shall comply with all other applicable technical requirements of this chapter and of I.C. 5-22-9.
(D) Other requirements. All such solicitations shall clearly set forth all requirements which offerors must fulfill and all other factors to be used in evaluating bids or proposals.
(Prior Code, § 41.13)