HB260 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jim Patterson
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Competitive bidding by schools, certain bidding requirements revised, Secs. 16-13B-2, 16-13B-7 am'd.
Summary: HB260 would allow Alabama city and county school boards to use nationwide cooperative purchasing and GSA contracts, specify sole-source requirements, and extend contract lengths from 3 to 5 years.
What This Bill Does
The bill enables purchases through nationwide cooperative purchasing programs and from vendors with GSA contracts under certain conditions. It sets criteria and documentation requirements for sole-source purchases. It introduces life cycle cost considerations for determining the lowest responsible bid and extends the maximum contract length for personal property or contractual services from 3 to 5 years (with lease-purchase terms for real property and other leases up to 10 years).

Who It Affects
City and county boards of education in Alabama, which would gain new purchasing avenues (cooperative programs and GSA contracts) and longer contract terms, subject to specified conditions.
Vendors and suppliers (including Alabama-based vendors and those with GSA or national cooperative purchasing contracts) who would participate in these purchasing options and must follow price limits, documentation, and bidding rules.

Key Provisions
Allows purchases through a competitive bid nationwide cooperative purchasing program for services and goods, with conditions similar to other bid processes.
Permits purchases from vendors under a GSA contract, with prices not to exceed the lowest competitively bid price or price on an existing state purchasing program.
Specifies sole-source purchase procedures, requiring justification when a sole source is used (indispensable nature, architect/engineer recommendation, and written documentation filed).
Allows life cycle cost analysis to determine the lowest responsible bid for personal property, with notice in the invitation to bid and procedures established by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.
Raises the maximum contract length for personal property or contractual services from three to five years; lease-purchase terms for capital improvements/real property and most other leases may be up to 10 years.
Maintains Alabama preference toward Alabama-produced goods or Alabama vendors, subject to safeguards and price/quality requirements.
Requires records of bids and reasons for award to remain open to public inspection.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Competitive Bids