1. A. This Chapter shall be applicable to the utilization of the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) method of source selection authorized by R.S. 39:1600.2.
2. B. To assist the chief procurement officer in making any determinations required under 39:1600.2, the Office of State Procurement (OSP) may require the using agency to provide additional information to justify any required determination.

3. C. Competitive Sealed Replies

   1. 1. For purposes of this Chapter, competitive sealed replies means replies submitted in response to an Invitation to Negotiate and which are protected from inspection prior to the deadline for submission.
   2. 2. Competitive sealed replies shall be advertised through a centralized electronic interactive environment administered by the Division of Administration (DOA) and on the electronic website accepting the electronic replies as provided in this Section at least 14 days before the last day that replies will be accepted. The advertisement or written notice required by this Section shall contain the name and address of the using agency and shall establish the specific date, time, and place by which the competitive sealed replies must be received.
   3. 3. Replies may be received in any manner specified in the Invitation to Negotiate including receipt by mail, by direct delivery, or through any secure electronic interactive environment permitted by rule or regulation.
   4. 4. Any competitive sealed reply withdrawn by the vendor prior to the deadline for submission of replies, or determined to be late relative to the deadline for submission of replies, shall not be opened and shall instead be subject to the provisions of §319.D of this Part.
   5. 5. Except as provided in Paragraph 4 of this Subsection, competitive sealed replies shall be secured until the replies submission deadline.
   6. 6. Competitive sealed replies shall not be inspected prior to the replies’ submission deadline unless the chief procurement officer determines that doing so is necessary for the sole purpose of identifying the name of the vendor and/or the Invitation to Negotiate to which the replies/reply is addressed.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 39:1600.2.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Division of Administration, Office of State Procurement, LR 51:1160 (August 2025).