<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" citation="COMAR 15.01.19.08" title_num="15" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="19" heading="Amendment of Procurement Bid.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>If, at any time after submission of a bid or proposal and before execution of a contract, a bidder or offeror determines that a Certified Local Farm Enterprise listed on the Certified Local Farm Enterprise participation schedule has become or will become unavailable or ineligible to provide the food products required under the contract, then the bidder or offeror:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Within 72 hours of making the determination, shall provide written notice to the procurement officer; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Within 5 business days of making the determination, may make a written request to the procurement officer to amend the Certified Local Farm Enterprise participation portion of the bid.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>For purposes of this regulation, “ineligible” means a farm enterprise may not be counted toward meeting the goal of 20 percent of the unit's total dollar value of a procurement contract because the farm enterprise is no longer certified by the Office.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The request to amend the Certified Local Farm Enterprise participation shall include:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An explanation of the reason for excluding the ineligible supplier;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The name of each Certified Local Farm Enterprise that will substitute for the ineligible supplier; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A full description of the bidder's or offeror's efforts to substitute another Certified Local Farm Enterprise to supply the food that the unavailable or ineligible Certified Local Farm Enterprise would have supplied.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>If a bidder or offeror cannot designate a substitute Certified Local Farm Enterprise for an ineligible supplier, the bidder or offeror’s bid may be disqualified.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>If, during the term of a procurement contract, a Certified Local Farm Enterprise becomes decertified, the bidder or offeror shall designate within 30 calendar days a substitute Certified Local Farm Enterprise to complete the contract obligations.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>