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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 21.05.12.04" title_num="21" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="12" heading="Noncompetitive Negotiated Procurement of Human, Social, or Educational Services.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Only human, social, or educational services may be procured by this method.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The noncompetitive negotiated procurement method may be used if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The procurement officer, with the approval of the agency head, determines that two or more sources for the services are available but that, because of the absence of effective competition, it is unreasonable to expect those sources to respond to an invitation for bids under COMAR 21.05.02 or request for proposals under COMAR 21.05.03.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The procurement is to obtain one of the following services:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An employer in a program of on the job training for employment and training purposes;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Group foster care services for children or adults under a negotiated rate system adopted by regulation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The following services for the mentally ill:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Residential rehabilitation services,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Community rehabilitation services (psychosocial), or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Therapeutic group home services for children and adolescents.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Public Notice.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>At least 10 days before general expressions of interest are due, the procurement agency shall give public notice of its general requirements for services and request interested service providers to respond with written general expressions of interest.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Public notice of any request for expressions of interest shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be sent to known potential providers; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Be sent to interested advocacy organizations.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If the procurement agency expects that any contract may exceed $25,000, the request for general expressions of interest shall so state and shall be published in eMaryland Marketplace.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>As a need for the services arises, the procurement officer may:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Conduct discussions with one or more responsible service providers that previously submitted an expression of interest; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Award a contract to a provider if the procurement agency head, on the basis of discussions or past experience with the provider, determines that an award will be in the State's best interest.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>As far as practicable in the course of a particular noncompetitive negotiated procurement, the procurement officer shall give responsible service providers that submitted acceptable or potentially acceptable expressions of interest fair and equal treatment with respect to discussions.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Notice of any award, regardless of amount, under this regulation shall be published in eMaryland Marketplace.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>