1. (a) The following procurement methods are authorized at the procurement officer's discretion, where applicable:

   1. (1) competitive sealed bids under § 13-103 of this subtitle;
   2. (2) competitive sealed proposals under § 13-104 or § 13-105 of this subtitle;
   3. (3) noncompetitive negotiation under § 13-106 of this subtitle;
   4. (4) sole source procurement under § 13-107 of this subtitle;
   5. (5) emergency or expedited procurement under § 13-108 of this subtitle;
   6. (6) small procurement under § 13-109 of this subtitle;
   7. (7) an intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement under § 13-110 of this subtitle;
   8. (8) auction bids under § 13-111 of this subtitle;
   9. (9) architectural, engineering, and land surveying services qualification based selection under § 13-112 of this subtitle;
   10. (10) master contracting under § 13-113 of this subtitle;
   11. (11) legislative fast-track procurements under § 13-117 of this subtitle; or
   12. (12) competitive proof of concept procurements under § 13-116 of this subtitle.

2. (b)

   1. (1) In awarding a procurement contract for human, social, cultural, or educational service, the preferred method is by competitive sealed proposals under § 13-104 of this subtitle.
   2. (2) In awarding a procurement contract for a lease of real property, the preferred method is by competitive sealed proposals under § 13-105 of this subtitle.
   3. (3) Procurement under an intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement is appropriate in situations where the State is expected to achieve a better price as the result of economies of scale or to otherwise benefit by purchasing in cooperation with another governmental entity.

Added by Acts 1988, c. 48, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 1988. Amended by Acts 1997, c. 680, § 1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 2001, c. 510, § 1, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2002, c. 297, § 1, eff. July 1, 2002; Acts 2002, c. 482, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2002; Acts 2017, c. 588, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2017, c. 589, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2019, c. 356, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019; Acts 2022, c. 237, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022; Acts 2022, c. 238, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022; Acts 2025, c. 601, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 625, § 3, eff. June 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 626, § 3, eff. June 1, 2025; Acts 2026, c. 265, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026.