SB68 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jimmy Holley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Competitive bids, public works projects, life cycle costs may be considered in determining lowest responsible bid, life cycle costs, public works, and personal property further defined, local governments authorized to purchase goods and services through vendors with current contract with Government Services Administration without further competitive bidding, Secs. 39-2-1, 39-2-6, 41-16-51, 41-16-57 am'd.

Summary

SB68 would let local Alabama governments buy from GSA-contracted vendors without new bids and would allow life cycle costs to influence the lowest bid on certain public works projects.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes local governments to purchase goods and services through vendors with current Government Services Administration contracts without further competitive bidding. It defines life cycle costs and allows them to be considered in determining the lowest responsible bidder for water and sewer public works projects, and it clarifies that personal property includes goods that are or will become fixtures. It requires bid invitations to note the use of life cycle costs and to allow potential material substitutions if they reduce life cycle costs, using industry sources for calculations. It also directs the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts to establish procedures for life cycle costs and to make bid records publicly available, and it sets related timing and contract-duration rules.

Who It Affects

• Local governments in Alabama (counties and municipalities) would be authorized to purchase goods and services through vendors with current GSA contracts without additional competitive bidding.
• Bidders/contractors and suppliers bidding on water and sewer public works projects (including Alabama-based vendors) would be affected by the option to base the award on life cycle costs and by the clarified definitions and procedures related to these bids.

Key Provisions

• Life cycle costs are defined as the total ownership costs over the expected life of a water or sewer public works project, including construction, operation, and maintenance, minus salvage and environmental benefits.
• Life cycle costs may be used to determine the lowest life cycle cost bidder for water and sewer public works projects; bidders may substitute materials if such changes lower lifecycle costs, provided the invitation to bid notes this possibility and industry sources are used for calculations.
• Definitions are clarified for 'life cycle costs', 'water and sewer public works projects', and 'personal property' to include goods that are or will become fixtures.
• Local governments may purchase from GSA-contracted vendors without further competitive bidding, with prices not exceeding the GSA contract prices.
• The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts must establish procedures for life cycle costs and distribute them to contracting agencies; bid records and award justifications must be open to public inspection.
• Contracts for personal property or contractual services shall be let for up to three years; lease periods for certain items may extend up to five or ten years as specified; other lease-purchase terms generally not exceeding ten years.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Competitive Bids