Title: An act relating to electronic and web-based bidding.

Brief Description: Allowing the state purchasing and material control director to receive electronic and web-based bids.

Sponsors: Senators Berkey, Kastama, Pridemore and Kline; by request of Department of General Administration.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/3/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: All purchases and sales handled by the Department of General Administration are based on competitive bids, and a formal sealed bid procedure must be used as standard procedure for all purchases and contracts for purchases and sales. Bids may be solicited by the purchasing division from any source thought to be of advantage to the state. All bids must be in writing and conform to the rules of the division of purchasing. After a contract is awarded, each bid, with the name of the bidder, must be open to public inspection.

Summary of Bill: Bidders may provide their bids in written, electronic, or web-based form. Bid prices may be disclosed during electronic or web-based bidding.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill will help streamline the bidding process. The system already allows web-based notification to bidders. The system has security in place so that names of bidders will not be available during the bid process but the bid prices will be. This bill passed the senate last session but died on the floor due to timing.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Bill Joplin, General Administration.