HB 06194 Summary

• Establishes competitive bidding and competitive negotiation requirements for quasi-public agency purchases of supplies, materials, equipment, and contractual services, effective October 1, 2021.

• Defines competitive bidding as price-based selection without negotiation and competitive negotiation as a process allowing price and proposal changes after submission, with price as an explicit evaluation factor.

• Waives competitive bidding requirements only for minor nonrecurring and emergency purchases of $10,000 or less.

• Requires quasi-public agencies to solicit bids publicly and award contracts to the lowest responsible qualified bidder, highest scoring bidder in multiple criteria bids, or most advantageous proposer based on criteria in the request for proposals.

• Expands the State Contracting Standards Board's authority to review, terminate, or recommend termination of quasi-public agency contracts for cause, including ethics violations, reckless disregard of procurement processes, or fraud and collusion.