§ 1-10 — Reverse auction

Notwithstanding any other provision of law and in accordance with rules adopted by the unit, a unit of local government, whether or not it is a home rule unit as defined in Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution, may procure supplies or services through a competitive electronic auction bidding process after the unit's purchasing officer explains in writing to the unit's governing body his or her determination that the use of such a process will be in the best interest of the unit. The purchasing officer shall publish that determination in the same manner required by law for the unit's invitations for bids. An invitation for bids shall be issued and shall include (i) a procurement description, (ii) all contractual terms, whenever practical, and (iii) conditions applicable to the procurement, including a notice that bids will be received in an electronic auction manner. Public notice of the invitation for bids shall be given in the same manner as required by law for the unit's other invitations for bids. Bids shall be accepted electronically at the time and in the manner designated in the invitation for bids. During the auction, a bidder's price shall be disclosed to other bidders. Bidders shall have the opportunity to reduce their bid prices during the auction. At the conclusion of the auction, the record of the bid prices received and the name of each bidder shall be open to public inspection. After the auction period has terminated, withdrawal of bids shall be permitted as otherwise provided by law. The contract shall be awarded within 60 days after the auction by written notice to the lowest responsible bidder, or all bids shall be rejected except as otherwise provided by law. Extensions of the date for the award may be made by mutual written consent of the purchasing officer and the lowest responsible bidder. (Source: P.A. 96-795, eff. 7-1-10 (see Section 5 of P.A. 96-793 for the effective date of P.A. 96-795) .)