Section 52: Selection Procedure where Price is not a Factor.

(1) Where the procuring entity elects to make a quality-based selection, based on consultant's qualifications or single-source selection, it shall engage in negotiations with consultants in accordance with this Section.
(2) The procurement entity shall:
(i) establish a weight with respect to quality and price of the proposals.
(ii) invite for negotiations on the price of its proposal, the Consultant that has attained the best rating in accordance with subsection (1) of this Section;
(iii) inform the Consultants that attained ratings above the weight that may be considered for negotiations if the negotiations with the consultant with the best rating do not result in a procurement contract; and
(iv) inform the Consultant with the best rating, that it is terminating the negotiations if it becomes apparent to the procuring entity that the negotiations with that Consultant, invited under subsection (b), will not result in a procurement contract.
(3) The procuring entity shall, if negotiations with the consultant with the best rating fails, invite the Consultant that obtained the second best rating, and if the negotiations with that Consultant do not result in a procurement contract, the procuring entity shall invite the other suppliers or contractors for negotiations on the basis of their rating until it arrives at a contract or rejects the remaining proposals.
(4) The procuring entity shall treat proposals and any negotiations on selection procedure as confidential and avoid the disclosure of their contents to competing consultants.