103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2559 Introduced , by Rep. Martin J. Moylan SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 430/10-15 30 ILCS 500/50-13 30 ILCS 500/50-39 30 ILCS 535/35 from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35 Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the gift ban requirements specified under the Act do not apply to attendance at professional conferences or events. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Attaches specified revolving door prohibition requirements to specified government officers and employees concerning conflicts of interest under the Code. Exempts communications providing general information about a firm and communications about proposal deficiencies under the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act from procurement communications reporting requirements. Amends the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act. Provides that a State agency shall publish the list of firms, along with scoring comments, determined to be qualified to provide services so that all firms have an opportunity to identify ways they may improve proposals in the future. Provides that a State agency may communicate with firms who were not selected in order to provide further information about the firm's proposal deficiencies. LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2559 Introduced , by Rep. Martin J. Moylan SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 430/10-15 30 ILCS 500/50-13 30 ILCS 500/50-39 30 ILCS 535/35 from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35 5 ILCS 430/10-15 30 ILCS 500/50-13 30 ILCS 500/50-39 30 ILCS 535/35 from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35 Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the gift ban requirements specified under the Act do not apply to attendance at professional conferences or events. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Attaches specified revolving door prohibition requirements to specified government officers and employees concerning conflicts of interest under the Code. Exempts communications providing general information about a firm and communications about proposal deficiencies under the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act from procurement communications reporting requirements. Amends the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act. Provides that a State agency shall publish the list of firms, along with scoring comments, determined to be qualified to provide services so that all firms have an opportunity to identify ways they may improve proposals in the future. Provides that a State agency may communicate with firms who were not selected in order to provide further information about the firm's proposal deficiencies. LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2559 Introduced , by Rep. Martin J. Moylan SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 430/10-15 30 ILCS 500/50-13 30 ILCS 500/50-39 30 ILCS 535/35 from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35 5 ILCS 430/10-15 30 ILCS 500/50-13 30 ILCS 500/50-39 30 ILCS 535/35 from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35 5 ILCS 430/10-15 30 ILCS 500/50-13 30 ILCS 500/50-39 30 ILCS 535/35 from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35 Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the gift ban requirements specified under the Act do not apply to attendance at professional conferences or events. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Attaches specified revolving door prohibition requirements to specified government officers and employees concerning conflicts of interest under the Code. Exempts communications providing general information about a firm and communications about proposal deficiencies under the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act from procurement communications reporting requirements. Amends the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act. Provides that a State agency shall publish the list of firms, along with scoring comments, determined to be qualified to provide services so that all firms have an opportunity to identify ways they may improve proposals in the future. Provides that a State agency may communicate with firms who were not selected in order to provide further information about the firm's proposal deficiencies. LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b A BILL FOR HB2559LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 AN ACT concerning finance. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is 5 amended by changing Section 10-15 as follows: 6 (5 ILCS 430/10-15) 7 Sec. 10-15. Gift ban; exceptions. The restriction in 8 Section 10-10 does not apply to the following: 9 (1) Opportunities, benefits, and services that are 10 available on the same conditions as for the general 11 public. 12 (2) Anything for which the officer, member, or State 13 employee pays the market value. 14 (3) Any (i) contribution that is lawfully made under 15 the Election Code or under this Act or (ii) activities 16 associated with a fundraising event in support of a 17 political organization or candidate. 18 (4) Educational materials and missions. This exception 19 may be further defined by rules adopted by the appropriate 20 ethics commission or by the Auditor General for the 21 Auditor General and employees of the Office of the Auditor 22 General. 23 (5) Travel expenses for a meeting to discuss State 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2559 Introduced , by Rep. Martin J. Moylan SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 430/10-15 30 ILCS 500/50-13 30 ILCS 500/50-39 30 ILCS 535/35 from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35 5 ILCS 430/10-15 30 ILCS 500/50-13 30 ILCS 500/50-39 30 ILCS 535/35 from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35 5 ILCS 430/10-15 30 ILCS 500/50-13 30 ILCS 500/50-39 30 ILCS 535/35 from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35 Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the gift ban requirements specified under the Act do not apply to attendance at professional conferences or events. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Attaches specified revolving door prohibition requirements to specified government officers and employees concerning conflicts of interest under the Code. Exempts communications providing general information about a firm and communications about proposal deficiencies under the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act from procurement communications reporting requirements. Amends the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act. Provides that a State agency shall publish the list of firms, along with scoring comments, determined to be qualified to provide services so that all firms have an opportunity to identify ways they may improve proposals in the future. Provides that a State agency may communicate with firms who were not selected in order to provide further information about the firm's proposal deficiencies. LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b A BILL FOR 5 ILCS 430/10-15 30 ILCS 500/50-13 30 ILCS 500/50-39 30 ILCS 535/35 from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35 LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 2 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 2 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 2 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 business. This exception may be further defined by rules 2 adopted by the appropriate ethics commission or by the 3 Auditor General for the Auditor General and employees of 4 the Office of the Auditor General. 5 (6) A gift from a relative, meaning those people 6 related to the individual as father, mother, son, 7 daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, great aunt, great 8 uncle, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, 9 grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, 10 father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, 11 daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, 12 stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, 13 stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, and 14 including the father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother 15 of the individual's spouse and the individual's fiance or 16 fiancee. 17 (7) Anything provided by an individual on the basis of 18 a personal friendship unless the member, officer, or 19 employee has reason to believe that, under the 20 circumstances, the gift was provided because of the 21 official position or employment of the member, officer, or 22 employee and not because of the personal friendship. 23 In determining whether a gift is provided on the basis 24 of personal friendship, the member, officer, or employee 25 shall consider the circumstances under which the gift was 26 offered, such as: HB2559 - 2 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 3 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 3 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 3 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 (i) the history of the relationship between the 2 individual giving the gift and the recipient of the 3 gift, including any previous exchange of gifts between 4 those individuals; 5 (ii) whether to the actual knowledge of the 6 member, officer, or employee the individual who gave 7 the gift personally paid for the gift or sought a tax 8 deduction or business reimbursement for the gift; and 9 (iii) whether to the actual knowledge of the 10 member, officer, or employee the individual who gave 11 the gift also at the same time gave the same or similar 12 gifts to other members, officers, or employees. 13 (8) Food or refreshments not exceeding $75 per person 14 in value on a single calendar day; provided that the food 15 or refreshments are (i) consumed on the premises from 16 which they were purchased or prepared or (ii) catered. For 17 the purposes of this Section, "catered" means food or 18 refreshments that are purchased ready to eat and delivered 19 by any means. 20 (9) Food, refreshments, lodging, transportation, and 21 other benefits resulting from the outside business or 22 employment activities (or outside activities that are not 23 connected to the duties of the officer, member, or 24 employee as an office holder or employee) of the officer, 25 member, or employee, or the spouse of the officer, member, 26 or employee, if the benefits have not been offered or HB2559 - 3 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 4 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 4 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 4 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 enhanced because of the official position or employment of 2 the officer, member, or employee, and are customarily 3 provided to others in similar circumstances. 4 (10) Intra-governmental and inter-governmental gifts. 5 For the purpose of this Act, "intra-governmental gift" 6 means any gift given to a member, officer, or employee of a 7 State agency from another member, officer, or employee of 8 the same State agency; and "inter-governmental gift" means 9 any gift given to a member, officer, or employee of a State 10 agency, by a member, officer, or employee of another State 11 agency, of a federal agency, or of any governmental 12 entity. 13 (11) Bequests, inheritances, and other transfers at 14 death. 15 (12) Any item or items from any one prohibited source 16 during any calendar year having a cumulative total value 17 of less than $100. 18 (13) Any food, refreshments, or other items provided 19 to an employee who is attending a professional conference 20 or event if the food, refreshments, or items are made 21 available to all other attendees of the conference or 22 event. 23 Each of the exceptions listed in this Section is mutually 24 exclusive and independent of one another. 25 (Source: P.A. 93-617, eff. 12-9-03.) HB2559 - 4 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 5 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 5 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 5 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 Section 10. The Illinois Procurement Code is amended by 2 changing Sections 50-13, 50-39, and 50-65 as follows: 3 (30 ILCS 500/50-13) 4 Sec. 50-13. Conflicts of interest. 5 (a) Prohibition. It is unlawful for any person (i) holding 6 an elective office in this State, holding a seat in the General 7 Assembly, or appointed to or employed in any of the offices or 8 agencies of State government and who receives compensation for 9 such employment in excess of 60% of the salary of the Governor 10 of the State of Illinois and is subject to the requirements of 11 subsection (h) of Section 5-45 of the State Officials and 12 Employees Ethics Act, or (ii) who is an officer or employee of 13 the Capital Development Board or the Illinois Toll Highway 14 Authority and is subject to the requirements of subsection (h) 15 of Section 5-45 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics 16 Act, or (iii) who is the spouse or minor child of any such 17 person who is subject to the requirements of subsection (h) of 18 Section 5-45 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, 19 to have or acquire any contract, or any direct pecuniary 20 interest in any contract therein, whether for stationery, 21 printing, paper, or any services, materials, or supplies, that 22 will be wholly or partially satisfied by the payment of funds 23 appropriated by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois 24 or in any contract of the Capital Development Board or the 25 Illinois Toll Highway Authority. HB2559 - 5 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 6 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 6 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 6 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 (b) Interests. It is unlawful for any firm, partnership, 2 association, or corporation, in which any person listed in 3 subsection (a) is entitled to receive (i) more than 7 1/2% of 4 the total distributable income or (ii) an amount in excess of 5 the salary of the Governor, to have or acquire any such 6 contract or direct pecuniary interest therein. 7 (c) Combined interests. It is unlawful for any firm, 8 partnership, association, or corporation, in which any person 9 listed in subsection (a) together with his or her spouse or 10 minor children is entitled to receive (i) more than 15%, in the 11 aggregate, of the total distributable income or (ii) an amount 12 in excess of 2 times the salary of the Governor, to have or 13 acquire any such contract or direct pecuniary interest 14 therein. 15 (c-5) Appointees and firms. In addition to any provisions 16 of this Code, the interests of certain appointees and their 17 firms are subject to Section 3A-35 of the Illinois 18 Governmental Ethics Act. 19 (d) Securities. Nothing in this Section invalidates the 20 provisions of any bond or other security previously offered or 21 to be offered for sale or sold by or for the State of Illinois. 22 (e) Prior interests. This Section does not affect the 23 validity of any contract made between the State and an officer 24 or employee of the State or member of the General Assembly, his 25 or her spouse, minor child, or other immediate family member 26 living in his or her residence or any combination of those HB2559 - 6 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 7 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 7 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 7 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 persons if that contract was in existence before his or her 2 election or employment as an officer, member, or employee. The 3 contract is voidable, however, if it cannot be completed 4 within 365 calendar days after the officer, member, or 5 employee takes office or is employed. 6 (f) Exceptions. 7 (1) Public aid payments. This Section does not apply 8 to payments made for a public aid recipient. 9 (2) Teaching. This Section does not apply to a 10 contract for personal services as a teacher or school 11 administrator between a member of the General Assembly or 12 his or her spouse, or a State officer or employee or his or 13 her spouse, and any school district, public community 14 college district, the University of Illinois, Southern 15 Illinois University, Illinois State University, Eastern 16 Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western 17 Illinois University, Chicago State University, Governors 18 State University, or Northeastern Illinois University. 19 (3) Ministerial duties. This Section does not apply to 20 a contract for personal services of a wholly ministerial 21 character, including but not limited to services as a 22 laborer, clerk, typist, stenographer, page, bookkeeper, 23 receptionist, or telephone switchboard operator, made by a 24 spouse or minor child of an elective or appointive State 25 officer or employee or of a member of the General 26 Assembly. HB2559 - 7 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 8 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 8 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 8 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 (4) Child and family services. This Section does not 2 apply to payments made to a member of the General 3 Assembly, a State officer or employee, his or her spouse 4 or minor child acting as a foster parent, homemaker, 5 advocate, or volunteer for or in behalf of a child or 6 family served by the Department of Children and Family 7 Services. 8 (5) Licensed professionals. Contracts with licensed 9 professionals, provided they are competitively bid or part 10 of a reimbursement program for specific, customary goods 11 and services through the Department of Children and Family 12 Services, the Department of Human Services, the Department 13 of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of 14 Public Health, or the Department on Aging. 15 (g) Penalty. A person convicted of a violation of this 16 Section is guilty of a business offense and shall be fined not 17 less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. 18 (Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.) 19 (30 ILCS 500/50-39) 20 Sec. 50-39. Procurement communications reporting 21 requirement. 22 (a) Any written or oral communication received by a State 23 employee who, by the nature of his or her duties, has the 24 authority to participate personally and substantially in the 25 decision to award a State contract and that imparts or HB2559 - 8 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 9 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 9 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 9 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 requests material information or makes a material argument 2 regarding potential action concerning an active procurement 3 matter, including, but not limited to, an application, a 4 contract, or a project, shall be reported to the Procurement 5 Policy Board, and, with respect to the Illinois Power Agency, 6 by the initiator of the communication, and may be reported 7 also by the recipient. 8 Any person communicating orally, in writing, 9 electronically, or otherwise with the Director or any person 10 employed by, or associated with, the Illinois Power Agency to 11 impart, solicit, or transfer any information related to the 12 content of any power procurement plan, the manner of 13 conducting any power procurement process, the procurement of 14 any power supply, or the method or structure of contracting 15 with power suppliers must disclose to the Procurement Policy 16 Board the full nature, content, and extent of any such 17 communication in writing by submitting a report with the 18 following information: 19 (1) The names of any party to the communication. 20 (2) The date on which the communication occurred. 21 (3) The time at which the communication occurred. 22 (4) The duration of the communication. 23 (5) The method (written, oral, etc.) of the 24 communication. 25 (6) A summary of the substantive content of the 26 communication. HB2559 - 9 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 10 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 10 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 10 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 These communications do not include the following: (i) 2 statements by a person publicly made in a public forum; (ii) 3 statements regarding matters of procedure and practice, such 4 as format, the number of copies required, the manner of 5 filing, and the status of a matter; (iii) statements made by a 6 State employee of the agency to the agency head or other 7 employees of that agency, to the employees of the Executive 8 Ethics Commission, or to an employee of another State agency 9 who, through the communication, is either (a) exercising his 10 or her experience or expertise in the subject matter of the 11 particular procurement in the normal course of business, for 12 official purposes, and at the initiation of the purchasing 13 agency or the appropriate State purchasing officer, or (b) 14 exercising oversight, supervisory, or management authority 15 over the procurement in the normal course of business and as 16 part of official responsibilities; (iv) unsolicited 17 communications providing general information about a firm's 18 products or , services, or industry best practices provided 19 before those products or services are not directly related to 20 an open procurement matter become involved in a procurement 21 matter; (v) communications received in response to procurement 22 solicitations, including, but not limited to, vendor responses 23 to a request for information, request for proposal, request 24 for qualifications, invitation for bid, or a small purchase, 25 sole source, or emergency solicitation, or questions and 26 answers posted to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin to HB2559 - 10 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 11 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 11 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 11 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 supplement the procurement action, provided that the 2 communications are made in accordance with the instructions 3 contained in the procurement solicitation, procedures, or 4 guidelines; (vi) communications that are privileged, 5 protected, or confidential under law; and (vii) communications 6 that are part of a formal procurement process as set out by 7 statute, rule, or the solicitation, guidelines, or procedures, 8 including, but not limited to, the posting of procurement 9 opportunities, the process for approving a procurement 10 business case or its equivalent, fiscal approval, submission 11 of bids, the finalizing of contract terms and conditions with 12 an awardee or apparent awardee, and similar formal procurement 13 processes; and (viii) communications about proposal 14 deficiencies as provided under Section 35 of the 15 Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications 16 Based Selection Act. The provisions of this Section shall not 17 apply to communications regarding the administration and 18 implementation of an existing contract, except communications 19 regarding change orders or the renewal or extension of a 20 contract. 21 The reporting requirement does not apply to any 22 communication asking for clarification regarding a contract 23 solicitation so long as there is no competitive advantage to 24 the person or business and the question and answer, if 25 material, are posted to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin as 26 an addendum to the contract solicitation. HB2559 - 11 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 12 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 12 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 12 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 (b) The report required by subsection (a) shall be 2 submitted monthly and include at least the following: (i) the 3 date and time of each communication; (ii) the identity of each 4 person from whom the written or oral communication was 5 received, the individual or entity represented by that person, 6 and any action the person requested or recommended; (iii) the 7 identity and job title of the person to whom each 8 communication was made; (iv) if a response is made, the 9 identity and job title of the person making each response; (v) 10 a detailed summary of the points made by each person involved 11 in the communication; (vi) the duration of the communication; 12 (vii) the location or locations of all persons involved in the 13 communication and, if the communication occurred by telephone, 14 the telephone numbers for the callers and recipients of the 15 communication; and (viii) any other pertinent information. No 16 trade secrets or other proprietary or confidential information 17 shall be included in any communication reported to the 18 Procurement Policy Board. 19 (c) Additionally, when an oral communication made by a 20 person required to register under the Lobbyist Registration 21 Act is received by a State employee that is covered under this 22 Section, all individuals who initiate or participate in the 23 oral communication shall submit a written report to that State 24 employee that memorializes the communication and includes, but 25 is not limited to, the items listed in subsection (b). 26 (d) The Procurement Policy Board shall make each report HB2559 - 12 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 13 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 13 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 13 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 submitted pursuant to this Section available on its website 2 within 7 calendar days after its receipt of the report. The 3 Procurement Policy Board may promulgate rules to ensure 4 compliance with this Section. 5 (e) The reporting requirements shall also be conveyed 6 through ethics training under the State Officials and 7 Employees Ethics Act. An employee who knowingly and 8 intentionally violates this Section shall be subject to 9 suspension or discharge. The Executive Ethics Commission shall 10 promulgate rules, including emergency rules, to implement this 11 Section. 12 (f) This Section becomes operative on January 1, 2011. 13 (g) For purposes of this Section: 14 "Active procurement matter" means a procurement process 15 beginning with requisition or determination of need by an 16 agency and continuing through the publication of an award 17 notice or other completion of a final procurement action, the 18 resolution of any protests, and the expiration of any protest 19 or Procurement Policy Board review period, if applicable. 20 "Active procurement matter" also includes communications 21 relating to change orders, renewals, or extensions. 22 "Material information" means information that a reasonable 23 person would deem important in determining his or her course 24 of action and pertains to significant issues, including, but 25 not limited to, price, quantity, and terms of payment or 26 performance. HB2559 - 13 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 14 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 14 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 14 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 "Material argument" means a communication that a 2 reasonable person would believe was made for the purpose of 3 influencing a decision relating to a procurement matter. 4 "Material argument" does not include general information about 5 products, services, or industry best practices or a response 6 to a communication initiated by an employee of the State for 7 the purposes of providing information to evaluate new 8 products, trends, services, or technologies. 9 (Source: P.A. 100-43, eff. 8-9-17.) 10 Section 15. The Architectural, Engineering, and Land 11 Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act is amended by 12 changing Section 35 as follows: 13 (30 ILCS 535/35) (from Ch. 127, par. 4151-35) 14 Sec. 35. Selection procedure. On the basis of evaluations, 15 discussions, and any presentations, the State agency shall 16 select no less than 3 firms it determines to be qualified to 17 provide services for the project and rank them in order of 18 qualifications to provide services regarding the specific 19 project. The State agency shall then contact the firm ranked 20 most preferred to negotiate a contract at a fair and 21 reasonable compensation. If fewer than 3 firms submit letters 22 of interest and the State agency determines that one or both of 23 those firms are so qualified, the State agency may proceed to 24 negotiate a contract under Section 40. The decision of the HB2559 - 14 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559- 15 -LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 15 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b HB2559 - 15 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b 1 State agency shall be final and binding. 2 As part of the State agency's commitment to fostering 3 greater diversity in contracting, the State agency shall 4 publish the list of firms, along with scoring comments, 5 determined to be qualified to provide services under this 6 Section so that all firms have an opportunity to identify ways 7 they may improve proposals in the future. The State agency may 8 communicate with firms who were not selected in order to 9 provide further information about the firm's proposal 10 deficiencies. 11 (Source: P.A. 87-673.) HB2559 - 15 - LRB103 30295 DTM 56723 b