HB187 Alabama 2021 Session

Under existing law, the competitive bid laws apply to purchases of goods and services over $15,000 by city or county boards of education and other governmental entities excluding public works.

Purchases of goods or services are excluded from the laws if the purchases are made through a purchasing cooperative sponsored by the National Association of Counties or other governmental cooperative purchasing programs if the goods or services are purchased as a result of a competitive bid process approved by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. The law does not specifically include in the exclusion goods or services purchased pursuant to a lease or a lease/purchase agreement.

This bill would amend the competitive bid laws applicable to the purchase or leases of goods and services by city and county boards of education and other governmental entities to specifically include leases and lease/purchase agreements within the exclusions from the laws for purchases made through national or regional cooperative purchasing agreements.

Relating to competitive bids for certain contracts with city or county boards of education and other governmental entities; to amend Section 16-13B-2, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to competitive bids on certain contracts by city and county boards of education, and Section 41-16-51, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to competitive bids on certain contracts by state and local governmental agencies; to specify that the exclusion for the purchases or lease of goods and services made through national or regional cooperative purchasing agreements includes leases and lease/purchase agreements.