(a) The council, commission, and each governing board shall purchase or acquire all materials, supplies, equipment, services, and printing required for their respective needs: Provided, That the governing boards under the jurisdiction of the commission, including the exempted schools, are subject to §18B-5-4(d) of this code.
(b) The commission and council jointly shall adopt rules governing and controlling acquisitions and purchases in accordance with this section: Provided, That these rules do not apply to the exempted schools and the governing boards of the exempted schools shall adopt their own rules consistent with this section: Provided, however, That the joint rules shall provide for appropriate deference to the value judgments of governing boards under the jurisdiction of the commission. The rules shall ensure that the following procedures are followed:
(1) No person is precluded from participating and making sales thereof to the council, commission, or governing board except as otherwise provided in §18B-5-5 of this code. Providing consulting services such as strategic planning services does not preclude or inhibit the governing boards, council, or commission from considering a qualified bid or response for delivery of a product or a commodity from the individual providing the services;