The bill SB36 amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to enhance the competitive bidding laws for public contracts by transferring procurement authority to the Chief Procurement Officer and specifying the governmental bodies subject to these laws, including educational institutions and the Department of Mental Health. Key provisions include the requirement for the Alabama Department of Transportation to adopt rules for purchasing professional services that promote fairness and transparency, as well as the expansion of the definition of entities involved in procurement to include volunteer fire departments and rescue squads. The bill also introduces electronic bid submissions, establishes a clear process for bid evaluation, and allows the Chief Procurement Officer to negotiate with the lowest responsible bidder to lower prices and award multiple contracts based on technical compatibility.

Additionally, the bill modifies emergency procurement procedures, allowing the Chief Procurement Officer to act swiftly in response to threats to public health or safety, while clarifying that certain supplies and services are exempt from oversight. It shortens the timeframe for bidders to file protests from 14 days to five days and establishes a clearer timeline for formal protests. The bill also raises the threshold for required disclosure statements from contracts exceeding $5,000 to those meeting the threshold for formal solicitations, mandates the inclusion of a disclosure statement in proposals, and allows for electronic submission of these statements. The act is set to take effect on June 1, 2025, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in public contracting processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 41-4-124, 41-4-132, 41-4-136, 41-4-161, 41-4-164, 41-16-82, 41-16-83, 41-16-85, 41-16-87
Enrolled: 41-4-124, 41-4-132, 41-4-136, 41-4-161, 41-4-164, 41-16-82, 41-16-83, 41-16-85, 41-16-87