(a) After ranking the proposers under § 370.406(h), an authority shall first attempt to negotiate a contract with the highest-ranked proposer. If an authority has committed to paying a stipend to unsuccessful proposers in accordance with § 370.409, an authority may include in the negotiations alternative technical concepts proposed by other proposers.
(b) If an authority is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the highest-ranked proposer, the authority shall, formally and in writing, end all negotiations with that proposer and proceed to negotiate with the next proposer in the order of the selection ranking until a contract is reached or negotiations with all ranked proposers end.