When a protest has been timely submitted, no execution of the contract shall be made until the protest has been settled or determined by the State Procurement Director or relevant procurement agency head, unless the director or relevant procurement agency head makes a written determination, after consulting with the head of the using agency or the head of the procurement agency, that the execution of the contract without delay is necessary to protect substantial interests of the state.

Codification Notes: This section was promulgated as R4:19-11-244 of the Procurement Rules prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules.