The bill aims to amend sections 5A-3-4 and 5A-3-12 of the Code of West Virginia by terminating the authority of the Director of the Purchasing Division to impose an annual fee on vendors. Specifically, it removes the requirement for vendors to pay an annual fee in order to receive notifications of bid solicitations for commodities and services. The bill states that the authority to charge such a fee will be terminated upon the effective date of the amendments enacted in 2025. This change is intended to alleviate financial burdens on vendors and streamline the purchasing process.

Additionally, the bill modifies the prequalification disclosure requirements for vendors by eliminating the stipulation that vendors must have paid the annual fee to have their bids accepted. Instead, vendors will only need to submit a certificate disclosing relevant information about their business. The bill maintains the requirement for vendors to report any changes in their submitted information and establishes penalties for submitting false certificates. Overall, the proposed amendments aim to simplify vendor participation in the state purchasing process while ensuring transparency and accountability.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5A-3-4, 5A-3-12
Engrossed Version: 5A-3-4, 5A-3-12