NC H713

Adds new section 143-52.3 to North Carolina General Statutes authorizing the Department of Administration to use multiple award schedule contracts for procurement of ground maintenance, construction, communications, and forestry equipment.

Requires the Department of Administration to issue requests for proposals for multiple award schedule contracts covering all four equipment categories by August 31, 2011, with contract terms of at least three years including annual product and pricing updates.

Defines eligible purchasers under multiple award schedule contracts to include State agencies, departments, institutions, public school districts, political subdivisions, community colleges, and University of North Carolina institutions.

Allows multiple vendors to be awarded contracts simultaneously based on evaluation factors including discounts, lifecycle costs, service, warranty, distribution channels, and past vendor performance.

Exempts the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety from the requirement to purchase communications equipment through multiple award schedule contracts and preserves the Department's ability to issue additional term contracts for equipment available through the multiple award schedules.