(a) The Executive Officer shall, in accordance with Section 6106 of the Public Contracts Code, negotiate a contract with the best-qualified firm, as determined by the provisions of Section 2980.8, for services at compensation that the Executive Officer determines is fair and reasonable to the State of California. Negotiations shall be completed with an agreed upon contracting price and contractual agreement within 14 calendar days from the award date for the winning consultant firm. Should the Executive Officer be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the firm considered to be the best-qualified at a price the Executive Officer determines to be fair and reasonable to the State of California, negotiations with that firm shall be formally terminated. The Executive Officer shall then undertake negotiations in the same manner with the next best-qualified firm(s) selected in order of preference pursuant to Section 2980.8, subdivision (b) until a contract is negotiated.

(b) Should the Executive Officer be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with any of the selected firms, the Executive Officer shall select additional firms, as provided in Section 2980.8, and continue negotiations in the same manner until a satisfactory agreement is reached.