(1) An evaluation committee appointed under Section 63G-6a-1503 shall evaluate and score each responsive statement of qualifications that has not been eliminated from consideration under this chapter, using the criteria described in the request for statement of qualifications.

(2) Criteria not described in the request for statement of qualifications may not be used to evaluate a statement of qualifications.

(3) An evaluation committee may enter into discussions or conduct interviews with, or attend presentations by, the design professionals whose statements of qualifications are under consideration.

(4) An evaluation committee shall rank the top three highest scoring design professionals, in order of their scores, for the purpose of entering into fee negotiations as provided in Section 63G-6a-1505.

(5) If fewer than three responsible design professionals submit statements of qualifications that are determined to be responsive, the chief procurement officer or head of a procurement unit with independent procurement authority shall issue a written determination explaining why it is in the best interest of the procurement unit to continue the fee negotiation and the contracting process with less than three design professionals.

(6) (a) The deliberations of an evaluation committee may be held in private. (b) If the evaluation committee is a public body, as defined in Section 52-4-103, the evaluation committee shall comply with Section 52-4-205 in closing a meeting for its deliberations.

(a) The deliberations of an evaluation committee may be held in private.

(b) If the evaluation committee is a public body, as defined in Section 52-4-103, the evaluation committee shall comply with Section 52-4-205 in closing a meeting for its deliberations.