HB 5238 Summary

• Establishes the "Local Government Professional Services Selection Act" to standardize procurement procedures for architectural, engineering, and land surveying services by local government units.

• Requires local units without existing satisfactory relationships with professional firms to publish notices requesting statements of interest, qualifications, and performance data from firms before selecting service providers.

• Mandates local units evaluate firms based on qualifications, professional personnel ability, past record and experience, and other applicable qualifications-based factors; allows discussions and public presentations with interested firms.

• Requires local units to rank qualified firms and negotiate contracts with the highest-ranked firm first at fair and reasonable compensation; if negotiations fail, the process continues sequentially with the next-ranked firms.

• Permits local units to waive these requirements for emergency situations or projects costing less than $20,000; takes effect 90 days after enactment.