1. (a) The board may:

   1. (1) negotiate with the proposers; and
   2. (2) make a preliminary contract award to any responsible proposer.
2. (b) The board shall give public notice of a public hearing, which must designate the time and place of a public hearing at which the board will hear comments upon the preliminary contract to be awarded.

3. (c) Following the public hearing, the board shall make a final contract award to any responsible proposer selected under this chapter based on a determination that the selected proposal is the most responsive to the needs of the district. The final contract award must:

   1. (1) be in the form of a resolution; and

   2. (2) include particularized findings relative to factors evaluated under section 7 of this chapter indicating that:

      1. (A) the district's needs are met by the final contract award; and

      2. (B) the action is in the public interest.

         [Pre-1996 Recodification Citation: 13-9.5-8-3(6).]

As added by P.L.1-1996, SEC.11.