Title: An act relating to competitive bid requirements.

Brief Description: Concerning competitive bid requirements.

Sponsors: Senator Pridemore.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/28/05, 3/1/05 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Fairley, Haugen, Kline and Pridemore.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, McCaslin and Mulliken.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: County purchase contracts must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with formal competitive bidding requirements. The formal bidding requirements can be dispensed with for purchases less than $2,500 upon the order of the county legislative authority. For purchases between $2,500 and $25,000, the county may dispense with formal bidding requirements and award the contract through an informal process, whereby the county awards the contract after soliciting telephone or written quotations from at least three different vendors.

Summary of Bill: Formal bidding requirements can be dispensed with for purchases less than $10,000; and the informal process can be used to award contracts for purchases between $10,000 and $50,000.

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 is a bill that will allow county governments to operate more efficiently.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Pridemore, prime sponsor; Paul Parker, WA Association of Counties.