HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 1786

BYRepresentatives Holland, Cole, Leonard, Lux, Pruitt, Taylor, Dorn, Todd, Ferguson, Miller, Wineberry, Winsley, Nealey, Rasmussen and Ebersole

Exempting vocational-technical institutes from competitive bidding in the case of sole source suppliers.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (19)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Butterfield, Cole, Cooper, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Holland, Holm, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, Taylor, Todd, Valle and Walker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Schoon.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 10, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Currently when a vocational technical institute wishes to purchase materials from a single source of supply, they must comply with the competitive bidding process rather than negotiating directly with the sole supplier.

SUMMARY:

Vocational technical institutes would be excused from complying with competitive bidding procedures when the supplier is clearly and justifiably the sole source.  Justification shall be based on either uniqueness of the purchase or sole availability at the required location.  The vocational technical institute shall negotiate to receive the best possible price.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 28, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Tim Strege, Council of Vocational Technical Institutes.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Duke Schaub, Associated General Contractors.

House Committee - Testimony For:    It is important that vocational technical institutes have the option of a simplified approach to acquisition when there is a single source which can provide the facilities, equipment, or services being sought.  A good example is computer software.  Only one company may have the software necessary to do a specific task.  There is no possibility that another company can provide the necessary equipment.  There should be a mechanism to address these situations.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      It is important that if a new section is created we make clear that these exceptions apply only to the purchase of furniture supplies and equipment.