As the article describes, a competitive job search is always required for PERM certification. The employer needs to fill out a DOL form (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/oflc/pdfs/9089for...), in which section I(c) requires two print advertisements for the job opportunity, and section N requires certifying that the opportunity was "clearly open" to US workers but no US worker who qualified was found.