HB3296 Summary

• Adds scoring methodology for competitive sealed proposals allowing bonus points for respondents' commitment to diverse and veteran-owned businesses, with specific evaluation factors set by chief procurement officers.

• Prohibits vendors from renewing contracts if they failed to demonstrate good faith effort toward meeting utilization plan goals under the Business Enterprise Program Act.

• Requires annual diversity and inclusion training for all employees with purchasing power or contract award authority, with chief procurement officers submitting annual reports to the General Assembly and Executive Ethics Commission.

• Sets aspirational goal of 20% utilization of businesses owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities for State contracts in service categories with history of disparate awards.

• Requires State agencies and public institutions of higher education to include in annual reports a plan to increase vendor diversity, with particular focus on underrepresented groups in contract awards.