11—105.16 (8A) Printing. This rule provides guidelines for the letting of contracts for public printing by the department and by state agencies, including the enforcement by the department of contracts for printing, except as otherwise provided by law.
	 105.16(1) Competitive selection for printing. The department and state agencies shall procure printing by competitive selection according to the rules of this chapter except when the printing is produced by state printing, pursuant to 11—102.4(8A) or the procurement is otherwise exempt from competitive selection pursuant to 11—105.4(8A). When an agency elects to purchase printing by competitive selection rather than using the services of state printing or a TSB, state printing and TSBs shall be part of the bidding process.
	 105.16(2) Specifications for printing.
	  a.   	 Preparation of written specifications. The department or a state agency shall procure printing by preparing a competitive selection document with written specifications and issue the same to bidders. The bid specifications shall become a part of the printing contract.
	  b.   	 Inspection of specifications. All specifications shall be held on file in the department’s printing division office or the office of the state agency conducting the solicitation and shall be available for inspection by prospective bidders.
	 105.16(3) Notification of solicitation for printing. The department or a state agency conducting the solicitation shall provide notification of the solicitation for printing to vendors.
	 105.16(4) Bid bonds for printing.
	  a.   	 When applicable. Security in the form of a bid bond or a certified or cashier’s check may be required from printing vendors.
	  b.   	 Amount of bonds. If a bid bond is required, each formal bid for printing must be accompanied by a certified or cashier’s check for the amount stated in the specifications. An annual bid bond in an amount set by the department may be deposited with the department by the bidder to be used in lieu of a certified or cashier’s check. The amount of the bond is fixed annually and bonds are dated from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.
	  c.   	 Return of bid bonds. Checks of unsuccessful bidders will be returned when the printed item is contracted. The check of the successful bidder will be returned when the performance bond is received and accepted by the department or by the state agency conducting the solicitation.
	  d.   	 Performance bonds. When required by the specifications, the successful bidder must deposit with the department or with the state agency conducting the solicitation a performance bond equal to 10 percent of the contract price unless otherwise stated in the specifications. The performance bond must be deposited within 21 days of the date the contract or bond paperwork is issued to the vendor by the department or agency.
	  e.   	 Forfeiture of bid bond. Failure to enter into a contract by the successful bidder within ten days of the award may result in forfeiture of 10 percent of the bid bond or the certified or cashier’s check, if a check is on deposit in lieu of a bond.