Cap.22:23 Pu.suc PROCUREMENT AND DISPOSAL OF Pusuc AssETS No.S/2017 (3) If the successful bidder fails to sign a written contract when required to do so or fails to provide, when required, any performance security before the time stated in the bidding documents for the signing of the contract, the procuring entity shall accept the next ranked bidder from among the remaining bids that have not been rejected, and shall thereupon comply with subsection (2) in relation to that bid: Provided that the procedure set out in this subsection may be applied only to the next two ranked bidders after the original successful bidder, and only to the extent that the bids can be economically justified. (4) Procurement contracts shall be signed by the procuring entity's accounting officer or a person delegated by him or her. 56 Performance security In such cases as may be prescribed, a procuring entity may require the successful bidder, before signing the procurement contract, to provide a performance security: Provided that any such requirement shall be stated in the bidding documents and the procurement contract. PART VIII PROCUREMENT OF CoNSULTANCY SERVICES 57 Interpretation in and application of Part VIII (1) In this Part- "community service organisation" means a non-profit non-governmental organisation concerned with local issues and community needs; "financial bid" means a bid, or that part of a bid, which sets out the price to be charged by a firm for the service to be provided under the bid; "fim1" means a person or association of persons providing consultancy services; "technical bid" means a bid, or that part of a bid, which sets out the nature of the service to be provided under the bid and the manner in which it is to be provided. (2) This Part shall apply to the procurement of consultancy services. 58 Request for proposals method ( l) For the procurement of consultancy services, procuring entities shall employ the request for proposals method described in this section. (2) Subject to subsection (3), a procuring entity shall, as part of its prequalification procedures, prepare a short-list of not fewer than three and not more than six firms which, so far as the procuring entity can ascertain(a) are of the same category and similar capacity and business objectives; and (b) have the capacity to perform the required services; and shall provide those firms with the request for proposals for services. (3) For the purpose of preparing the short-list referred to in subsection (2)(a) where the estimated value of the procurement exceeds the prescribed threshold, the procuring entity shall seek expressions of interest by publishing a notice in an appropriate publication such as a local or international newspaper of wide circulation or on the Internet, or in a relevant trade publication or technical or professional journal; 75