(a) Notwithstanding the bidding provisions of this chapter, reverse auctions may be utilized for the acquisition of goods and services. The reverse auction process shall include a specification of an opening date and time when real-time electronic bids may be accepted, and provide that the procedure shall remain open until the designated closing date and time.

(b) All bids on reverse auctions shall be posted electronically on the Internet, updated on a real-time basis, and shall allow registered bidders to lower the price of their bid below the lowest bid posted on the Internet.

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(c) The Department of General Services shall require vendors to register before the reverse auction opening date and time, and as part of the registration, agree to any terms and conditions and other requirements of the solicitation. The Department of General Services may require vendors to be prequalified prior to placing bids in a reverse auction.

(d) For purposes of this section, “reverse auction” means a competitive online solicitation process for fungible goods or services in which vendors compete against each other online in real time in an open and interactive environment.

(e) The reverse auction process may not be used for bidding on any construction contract that is subject to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10100).

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 266, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)