House Bill No. [insert number] introduces new provisions under R.S. 38:2212.1(Q) that allow local governmental subdivisions in Louisiana to enter into agreements with qualified group purchasing organizations (GPOs) for the procurement of materials, equipment, and supplies. The bill mandates that these GPOs submit a price list that remains valid for at least three months, which will be considered a binding bid during the effective period of the agreement. While the price lists themselves are not public records, the portion of the list that is incorporated into a contract will become public upon the opening of bids or contract execution.

Additionally, the bill defines a "qualified group purchasing organization" as one that includes two or more local governmental subdivisions as members and solicits bids from vendors for relevant materials and supplies. Local governments are authorized to purchase through these GPOs if the prices are lower than those on state contracts or if the items are not available on the state bid list. The bill also emphasizes that purchases from non-qualified entities must adhere to existing state procurement processes.