The principal policies and purposes of these regulations are to: Provide for increased public confidence in the procedures followed in public procurement; Ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all persons who deal with the procurement system of this State; Simplify, clarify, and modernize the regulations governing procurement by this State; Permit the continued development of procurement regulations, policies, and practices; Provide increased economy in State procurement activities and to maximize to the fullest extent the purchasing power of the State; Provide safeguards for the maintenance of a procurement system of quality and integrity; Foster effective broad-based competition through support of the free enterprise system; and Promote development of uniform procurement procedures to the extent possible.