Iowa Senate Bill SF2197

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/24
• Refer: 2/1/24

Caption

A bill for an act providing for purchases made by nonprofit corporations when performing public functions.

Impact

The impact of SF2197 is significant as it establishes a uniform process across multiple categories of state-funded public functions, promoting greater flexibility for nonprofits in how they manage and assess their procurement activities. This change is expected to improve engagement from nonprofits, as they can tailor their evaluations based on performance outcomes rather than solely on cost, which may lead to better service delivery and accountability in public functions.

Summary

Senate File 2197, introduced by Senator Cournoyer, is aimed at allowing nonprofit corporations that engage in public functions to adopt a performance-based process for reviewing and ranking bids when they receive public funds through competitive bidding procedures. The bill amends various sections of Iowa's code pertaining to the procurement and bidding processes employed by state and local entities, including community colleges, counties, and cities. By doing so, it seeks to streamline evaluation processes for bids and enhance the efficiency of public spending by nonprofits.

Conclusion

Overall, SF2197 symbolizes a legislative effort to modernize the procurement practices of nonprofit organizations in Iowa, with an aim to enhance their effectiveness in delivering public services through a more strategic and performance-focused bidding process. The bill reflects a broader trend towards efficiency in government contracting but also raises questions about the implications for competition among nonprofits.

Contention

Notable points of contention could arise from this shift towards a more performance-oriented evaluation process. Critics may express concern over the potential for ambiguity in 'performance-based' criteria, which could lead to subjective interpretations and inconsistencies. Furthermore, the change might be perceived as favoring larger nonprofits with more resources to prepare comprehensive bids, thus potentially disadvantaging smaller organizations in competitive environments.