HB518 Summary

• Amends Section 41-16-27 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to allow the State to award multiple purchase contracts from a single invitation-to-bid when items have different technical compatibility or operational requirements.

• Requires awarding authorities to include notice in the invitation-to-bid that multiple awards may be made and specify the technical compatibility or operational requirements necessitating the multiple awards.

• Multiple contract awards must be made to the lowest responsible bidder that complies with each set of unique technical compatibility or operational specifications.

• Permits secondary contract awards to Alabama businesses certified under the Federal HUBZone program for up to 20 percent of the original contract value if their bid does not exceed 5 percent of the lowest responsible bid, provided notice of this possibility is included in the invitation-to-bid.

• Becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.