HB 4954 Summary

• Requires the Michigan Department of Management and Budget to develop and publish a formal protest process for unsuccessful bidders to challenge contract award decisions under state procurement law.

• Mandates the protest process include: filing timelines and procedures, required information in protests, citation of violated statutes or policies, and prohibits FOIA request delays as valid reasons for extending protest deadlines.

• Establishes that bidders cannot protest based on their own failures, including improper submission instructions, late submissions, missing required documents, bonds, or failure to timely file the protest itself.

• Requires the Chief Procurement Officer to investigate timely protests meeting all requirements and provide written responses; prohibits contract finalization on disputed solicitations until a final protest decision is issued, except in emergencies involving public health, safety, or substantial harm to state property.

• Allows the Chief Procurement Officer to deny protests for reasons beyond the specified list based on established policy.