SB 59 Summary

• Amends Section 41-4-110 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to allow state departments, agencies, boards, and institutions to purchase personal property from non-contracted vendors if the price is at least 10 percent below the statewide contract price.

• Limits such alternative purchases to acquisitions not exceeding $15,000 per transaction, whether single or multiple items.

• Requires the Division of Purchasing to confirm that terms and conditions of the alternative purchase are substantially similar to those of the statewide contract before approval.

• Excludes construction and road-building materials from this purchasing authority and requires prior approval from the Secretary of Information Technology for any IT network-connected purchases.

• Mandates that vendors must be physically located within Alabama if the purchaser takes possession at the vendor's physical location, and prices must be the market rate available to the general public.