(1) The Commission shall cause a notice of intent to receive bids to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the lands, interest or project is located and may have such notice published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Los Angeles, or San Francisco, or Sacramento. Such notice shall specify the lands or interest (oil, gas or mineral lease; easement; timber; land; etc. for sale or project (public works or consultant contracts, oil, gas or mineral exploration, etc.) for bid, the time and place for the receipt and opening of bids, and the availability of appropriate approved bid packages and forms at the office of the Commission.

(2) The Commission shall at the specified time and place publicly open or have opened the sealed bids and shall award the highest or lowest responsible bidder, as appropriate, unless, in the opinion of the Commission such award is not in the best interest of the State, in which case the Commission may reject all existing bids and call for new ones or terminate bidding.

(3) The Commission shall have broad discretion as to whether a bidder is “responsible” based on what it deems to be in the best interest of the State.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in the bid instructions specifying a shorter period, and/or limiting the firm bid requirement to a specific number of high or low bidders as appropriate, each bid shall be a firm bid, irrevocable for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days from the date of bid opening.