(a) The following procurement methods are authorized at the procurement officer’s discretion, where applicable:
(1) competitive sealed bids under § 13–103 of this subtitle;
(2) competitive sealed proposals under § 13–104 or § 13–105 of this subtitle;
(3) noncompetitive negotiation under § 13–106 of this subtitle;
(4) sole source procurement under § 13–107 of this subtitle;
(5) emergency or expedited procurement under § 13–108 of this subtitle;
(6) small procurement under § 13–109 of this subtitle;
(7) an intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement under § 13–110 of this subtitle;
(8) auction bids under § 13–111 of this subtitle;
(9) architectural, engineering, and land surveying services qualification based selection under § 13–112 of this subtitle;
(10) master contracting under § 13–113 of this subtitle; or
(11) legislative fast–track procurements under § 13–117 of this subtitle.
(b) (1) In awarding a procurement contract for human, social, cultural, or educational service, the preferred method is by competitive sealed proposals under § 13–104 of this subtitle.
(2) In awarding a procurement contract for a lease of real property, the preferred method is by competitive sealed proposals under § 13–105 of this subtitle.
(3) Procurement under an intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement is appropriate in situations where the State is expected to achieve a better price as the result of economies of scale or to otherwise benefit by purchasing in cooperation with another governmental entity.