The bill amends various sections of the Idaho Code concerning procurement by political subdivisions, specifically focusing on exclusions from procurement requirements and the public works construction procurement process. It raises the threshold for certain procurement exclusions, increasing the limit for public works construction from $50,000 to $100,000 and for services or personal property from $75,000 to $100,000. Additionally, it revises the procurement procedures for public works construction valued between $100,000 and $250,000, establishing a more structured bidding process that allows for fewer than three bids under specific conditions. The bill also emphasizes transparency and documentation throughout the procurement process, requiring political subdivisions to maintain records of their bid procurement efforts and decision rationales.

Moreover, the bill modifies Section 67-2806 of the Idaho Code, raising the threshold for procurement procedures from a previous range of $75,000 to $150,000 to a new range of $100,000 to $250,000. For expenditures exceeding $250,000, it mandates an open competitive sealed bid process to ensure fairness. The timeline for submitting written objections to specifications or bidding procedures is also adjusted, requiring submissions at least one business day before bids are received and three business days before they are opened. The bill maintains the requirement for bid security and outlines procedures for situations where the successful bidder fails to execute the contract, including awarding the contract to the next lowest qualified bidder. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 67-2803, 67-2805, 67-2806