Except for purchases solicited pursuant to the provisions for small purchases set forth in § 37-2-22, all state contracts and purchases shall be solicited through utilization of the Rhode Island Vendor Information Program (RIVIP) as set forth in § 37-2-17.1. Except as otherwise authorized by law, all state contracts shall be awarded by:

(1)  Competitive sealed offers, pursuant to § 37-2-18;

(2)  Competitive negotiation, pursuant to § 37-2-19 and § 37-2-20;

(3)  Noncompetitive negotiation, pursuant to § 37-2-21;

(4)  Small purchase procedures, pursuant to § 37-2-22; or

(5)  Reverse auctions, pursuant to § 37-2-18.1.