Req. No. 5608 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021) HOUSE BILL 1789 By: Pae AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to public buildings and public works; amending 61 O.S. 2011, Section 103, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 405, O.S.L. 2019 (61 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 103), which relates to competitive bidding; authorizing certain local governmental units to create purchasing cooperative; providing for notice and publication; providing for compliance of requirements; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 61 O.S. 2011, Section 103, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 405, O.S.L. 2019 (61 O.S. Supp. 2020, Section 103), is amended t o read as follows: Section 103. A. Unless otherwise provided by law, all public construction contracts exceeding Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) shall be let and awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, by open competitive bidding after solicitation for sealed bids, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974. No work shall be commenced until a written contract is executed and all required bonds and insurance have been provided by the contractor to the awarding pu blic agency. Req. No. 5608 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, in awarding public construction contracts exceeding Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), counties, cities, other local units of government and any public trust with a county or a municipality a s its sole beneficiary may provide for a local bid preference of not more than five percent (5%) of the bid price if the awarding public agency determines that there is an economic benefit to the local area or economy. Provided, however, the local bidder or contractor must agree to perform the contract for the same price and terms as the bid proposed by the nonlocal bidder or contractor. Any bid preference granted hereunder must be in accordance with an established policy adopted by the governing body of the awarding public agency to clearly demonstrate the economic benefit to the local area or economy. Provided, further, no local bid preference shall be granted unless the local bidding entity is the second lowest qualified bid on the contract. The bid s pecifications shall clearly state that the bid is subject to a local bidder preference law. For purposes of this section, "local bid" means the bidding person is authorized to transact business in this state and maintains a bona fide establishment for tra nsacting such business within this state. This provision does not apply to any construction contract for which federal funds are available for expenditure when its provisions may be in conflict with federal law or regulation. Req. No. 5608 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 C. Except as provided in sub section E of this section, other construction contracts for the purpose of making any public improvements or constructing any public building or making repairs to the same for Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) or less shall be let and awarded to the lowe st responsible bidder by receipt of written bids or awarded on the basis of competitive quotes to the lowest responsible qualified contractor. Work may be commenced in accordance with the purchasing policies of the public agency. D. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, other construction contracts for less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) may be negotiated with a qualified contractor. Work may be commenced in accordance with the purchasing policies of the public agency. E. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to public construction for minor maintenance or minor repair work to public school district property. Other construction contracts for less than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) may be negotiated with a qualified contractor. Construction contracts equal to or greater than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) but less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) shall be let and awarded to the lowest responsible bidder by receipt of written bids. No work shal l be commenced on any construction contract until a written contract is executed and proof of insurance has been provided by the contractor to the awarding public agency. Req. No. 5608 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 F. The Construction and Properties Division of the Office of Management and Enterpri se Services may award contracts using best value competitive proposals. As used in this subsection, "best value" means an optional contract award system which can evaluate and rank submitted competitive performance proposals to identify the proposal with the greatest value to the state. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services, pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, shall promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection. G. 1. A public agency shall not let or awa rd a public construction contract exceeding Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) to any contractor affiliated with a purchasing cooperative unless the purchasing cooperative and the contractor have complied with all of the provisions of the Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974, including but not limited to open competitive bidding after solicitation for sealed bids. A public agency shall not let or award a public construction contract exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) up to Fifty Thousand Dollar s ($50,000.00) to any contractor affiliated with a purchasing cooperative unless the purchasing cooperative and the contractor have complied with all of the provisions of the Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974, including submission of a written bid upo n notice of competitive bidding. Req. No. 5608 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. A purchasing cooperative and its affiliated contractors shall not be allowed to bid on any public construction contract exceeding Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) unless the purchasing cooperative and its affiliated contractors have complied with all of the provisions of the Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974, including but not limited to open competitive bidding after solicitation for sealed bids. A purchasing cooperative and its affiliated contractors shall not be allowed to bid on any public construction contract exceeding Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) unless the purchasing cooperative and its affiliated contractors have complied with all of the provisions of the Public Competitive Bidding Act o f 1974, including submission of a written bid upon notice of open competitive bidding. 3. Local governmental units or local governmental units cooperating under the terms of any interlocal cooperative agreement authorized by state law may create a purchas ing cooperative or contract with a purchasing cooperative to provide leverage in achieving best value or the best terms in contracts. To encourage intergovernmental collaboration, any purchasing cooperative or interlocal cooperative entity may utilize a s ingle legal newspaper of this state or a nationally distributed newspaper to serve as the sole public notice to meet notice and publication requirements as required under state and local law. Any local governmental unit that enters into membership or cont racts with a purchasing Req. No. 5608 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 cooperative or interlocal cooperative entity may enter into purchases or contracts under the terms negotiated by the purchasing cooperative or interlocal cooperative entity. If the purchasing cooperative or interlocal cooperative e ntity complies with the requirements of this section, all local governmental units shall be deemed in compliance with the requirements set forth in this section for bid notices. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021. 58-1-5608 LRB 01/04/21