Rhode Island General Laws Title 37. Public Property and Works § 37-2-69. Provision of architectural, engineering, or consultant services not exceeding twenty thousand dollars

(a) State agencies. (1) For every state project requiring architectural or engineering services, the fees for which are not reasonably expected to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), the state agency shall forward to the chief purchasing officer a request for those services through the state purchasing office.

(2) For every state agency project requiring consultant services, the fees for which are not reasonably expected to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), the state agency shall forward to the chief purchasing officer a request for such services through the state purchasing office with a proposed scope of work and, if possible, the names of three recommended qualified contractors, along with a written evaluation of the qualifications of each potential contractor.

(3) The purchasing agent shall request offers from potential contractors in writing and shall notify potential contractors that any contract resulting from such solicitation shall not exceed a total value of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), including change orders.

(4) The chief purchasing officer shall be responsible for the final selection of a qualified architectural, engineering, or consultant firm for the project and shall so inform the purchasing agent. The chief purchasing officer shall use the criteria set forth in § 37-2-61 in making that determination. The determination shall be justified in writing.