A procurement unit, other than a legislative procurement unit, a judicial procurement unit, a nonadopting local government procurement unit, or a public transit district, may not proceed further with a solicitation or with the award of a contract:
(1) during the pendency of a timely:
(a) protest under Section 63G-6a-1602;
(b) appeal of a protest under Section 63G-6a-1702; or
(c) appeal of a procurement appeals panel decision under Section 63G-6a-1802; and
(2) until:
(a) all administrative and judicial remedies are exhausted;
(b) for a protest under Section 63G-6a-1602 or an appeal under Section 63G-6a-1702:
(i) the chief procurement officer, after consultation with the attorney general's office and the head of the using agency, makes a written determination that award of the contract without delay is in the best interest of the procurement unit or the state;
(ii) the procurement official of an independent procurement unit, after consultation with the procurement unit's attorney, makes a written determination that award of the contract without delay is in the best interest of the procurement unit or the state; or
(iii) for a procurement unit that is not represented by the attorney general's office, the procurement official, after consulting with the attorney for the procurement unit, makes a written determination that award of the contract without delay is in the best interest of the procurement unit or the state; or
(c) for an appeal under Section 63G-6a-1802, or an appeal to a higher court than district court:
(i) the chief procurement officer, after consultation with the attorney general's office and the head of the using agency, makes a written determination that award of the contract without delay is in the best interest of the procurement unit or the state;
(ii) the procurement official of an independent procurement unit, after consultation with the procurement unit's attorney, makes a written determination that award of the contract without delay is in the best interest of the procurement unit or the state; or
(iii) for a procurement unit that is not represented by the attorney general's office, the procurement official, after consulting with the attorney for the procurement unit, makes a written determination that award of the contract without delay is necessary to protect the best interest of the procurement unit or the state.