OH HB246

Amends section 9.314 of the Revised Code to authorize political subdivisions (municipalities, townships, counties, school districts, and contracting authorities) to purchase services and supplies using reverse auction processes.

Defines reverse auction as a purchasing process where offerors submit competing proposals to sell services or supplies via the internet in an open environment.

Permits reverse auction purchases to include services and supplies previously prohibited, except for contracts involving design, construction, alteration, repair, reconstruction, or demolition of buildings, highways, roads, streets, drainage systems, water systems, sewers, or similar structures.

Requires political subdivisions to solicit proposals through a request for proposals that states the relative importance of price and other evaluation factors, and allows discussions with responsible offerors to clarify and revise proposals.

Allows contract awards to the offeror with the most advantageous proposal based on price and evaluation criteria, and specifies that reverse auction purchases satisfy legal requirements for competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed proposals.