New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 6 - PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
Chapter 50 - INSURANCE
Part 2 - CONTRACTS FOR PURCHASE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND INSURANCE
Section 6.50.2.10 - PROCEDURES FOR ENTERING INTO CONTRACTS

A. Contracts for professional services, consulting or insurance services shall be solicited, negotiated and awarded through a competitive sealed proposal process in accordance with the Procurement Code, Section 13-1-1 et seq., NMSA 1978. Sole source, emergency and small purchases shall also be solicited, negotiated and awarded in accordance with the Procurement Code, Section 13-1-1 et seq., NMSA 1978.

B. Proposals shall be evaluated based on the requirements set forth in the invitation for proposals, which requirements shall include criteria for evaluating proposals such as experience, both quantitative and qualitative, prior provision of similar services, client references, price and any other considerations the authority deems relevant. No criteria may be used in proposal evaluations that are not set forth in the invitation for proposals. The authority may provide that price is a factor, but that a contract need not be awarded to the vendor proposing the lowest price. The award shall be made to the responsible offeror or offerors whose proposal is most advantageous to the authority, taking into consideration the evaluation factors set forth in the request for proposals.

C. All prospective contractors shall submit to the board a signed completed original of a contract prepared by, reviewed and approved by the authority's general legal counsel. The contract form shall be submitted to and approved by the board prior to initiating any action with prospective contractors for contractual services and prior to beginning performance of any services pursuant to the contract.

D. There shall be no liability whatsoever by the authority, and there shall be no services rendered unless those services have commenced after approval of a contract for services by the board.