MS HB159

Amends Section 31-7-13 to require agencies and governing authorities to post advertisements for competitive bids on the Department of Finance and Administration's procurement portal for two consecutive weeks (instead of newspaper publication only).

Allows agencies and governing authorities to also advertise once each week for two consecutive weeks in a regular newspaper published or having general circulation in the county or municipality where the agency is located, but portal posting is now mandatory.

Requires agencies and governing authorities to notify the Mississippi Procurement Technical Assistance Program sufficiently in advance when publishing on the procurement portal to allow timely posting.

Makes conforming amendments to Section 31-7-13.1 regarding dual-phase design-build construction contracting to require portal publication for two consecutive weeks instead of newspaper-only publication.

Brings forward Section 31-7-13.2 regarding the construction manager at risk method of project delivery for possible future amendment; effective July 1, 2018.