§ 69.1. Definitions.

 The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   Bureau—The Bureau of Purchases of the Department of General Services.

   Committee—A group of Commonwealth employes, with technical, managerial or other appropriate expertise and experience in negotiation and costing, which evaluates proposals and assigns point values thereto.

   Contract—A contract for the purchase of goods and supplies.

   Department—The Department of General Services of the Commonwealth.

   Goods and supplies—Equipment, furniture and furnishings, stationery, materials, or supplies that may be needed by a department, board or commission.

   Installment purchase—The acquisition of goods or supplies through a series of payments over a fixed period of time whereby title is obtained by the buyer upon receipt of the good or supply and the seller may retain a security interest until final payment is made.

   Invitation to bid—Documents, whether attached or incorporated by reference, used for soliciting bids.

   Lease purchase—A lease of goods or supplies with purchase option or equity credit accrual, or both. Title remains with the lessor until the purchase option is exercised or the purchase is made.

   Life cycle cost—Total cost of the good or supply in terms of purchase cost, installation cost, maintenance cost, energy cost, supply cost and other costs.

   Proposal—The technical description of the good or supply which is being offered in response to a request for proposals and the price of the good or supply.

   Purchase—The acquisition of goods and supplies. The term includes acquisition by lease purchase or installment purchase.

   Request for proposals—Documents, whether attached or incorporated by reference, used for soliciting proposals.

   Responsible bidder—A person who has the capability to perform the contract requirements, and the integrity and reliability which will assure good faith performance.

   Responsive bid—A bid which conforms in all material aspects with the invitation to bid.

   Secretary—The Secretary of the Department of General Services or a designee, or both.

   Specifications—The words used in an invitation to bid to describe the goods and supplies to be purchased.