The bill amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to improve the procedures for protesting competitive bid contracts. Key provisions include the introduction of a "notice of intent to protest," which must be filed with the Chief Procurement Officer within five calendar days of a solicitation or its amendment. Following this notice, the aggrieved party has seven calendar days to submit a formal written protest. If the protest is not resolved within ten days, the Chief Procurement Officer is required to conduct an administrative review and issue a decision within 14 days. Furthermore, the state is prohibited from proceeding with the solicitation or awarding a contract during the protest period unless a written determination is made that it is necessary to protect the state's best interests.

The bill also revises the requirements for disclosure statements from individuals submitting proposals or bids, allowing for exemptions for certain contracts, such as those with publicly traded companies. It permits a single comprehensive annual disclosure statement for individuals involved in multiple contracts with various state agencies and authorizes the establishment of electronic systems for submitting these statements. Additionally, the bill mandates that disclosure statements be certified by the vendor or grant recipient, which can now be done electronically. It clarifies that these statements must be retained for audit purposes and specifies that the article does not apply to entities not receiving state funds or to contracts between public procurement units. The effective date for these changes is set for June 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 41-4-161, 41-4-164, 41-16-82, 41-16-83, 41-16-85, 41-16-87
Engrossed: 41-4-161, 41-4-164, 41-16-82, 41-16-83, 41-16-85, 41-16-87