SELECTION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY ACCESS SERVICE CARRIER

(a) The commission shall select one telecommunications carrier to provide the statewide telecommunications relay access service. (b) The commission shall make a written award of the contract to the telecommunications carrier whose proposal is the most advantageous to this state, considering: (1) price; (2) the interests of the community of persons with an impairment of hearing or speech in having access to a high quality and technologically advanced telecommunications system; and (3) any other factor listed in the commission's request for proposals. (c) The commission shall consider each proposal in a manner that does not disclose the contents of the proposal to a telecommunications carrier making a competing proposal. (d) The commission's evaluation of a telecommunications carrier's proposal shall include the: (1) charges for the service; (2) service enhancements proposed by the carrier; (3) technological sophistication of the network proposed by the carrier; and (4) date proposed for beginning the service.