(a) If the basis of the award of responsive proposals is best-value, then each proposal shall be submitted by the proposer to the agency in two separate components: a sealed technical proposal and a sealed price proposal. These two components shall be submitted simultaneously. The agency shall first open, evaluate, and score each responsive technical proposal, based on the quality criteria contained in the request for proposals. The request for proposals may provide that the range between the highest and lowest quality scores of responsive technical proposals must be limited to an amount certain. During this evaluation process, the price proposals shall remain sealed, and all technical proposals shall be confidential.

(b) After completion of the evaluation of the technical proposals, the agency shall open and review each price proposal. The agency shall develop a system for assessing the cost and quality criteria. The agency shall award the contract to the proposer of the project representing the best value to the agency. (Added 2009, No. 50, § 84.)