S-0881.1                   _______________________________________________

 

                                                     SENATE BILL 5388

                              _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

 

By Senators Jesernig, Prentice, McDonald, Prince, Fraser, Moyer, Deccio, Erwin, Sheldon, Oke and Winsley

 

Read first time 01/26/93.  Referred to Committee on Health & Human Services.

 

Authorizing sheltered workshops to engage in competitive bidding to provide state services and goods.


          AN ACT Relating to sheltered workshops and programs; and amending RCW 43.19.530, 43.19.1908, and 43.19.1911.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

        Sec. 1.  RCW 43.19.530 and 1977 ex.s. c 10 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The state agencies and departments are ((hereby)) authorized to purchase products ((and/or)) and services manufactured or provided by sheltered workshops and programs of the department of social and health services.  Such purchases shall be at the fair market price of such products and services as determined by the division of purchasing of the department of general administration.  To determine the fair market price the division shall use the last comparable bid on the products and/or services or in the alternative the last price paid for the products and/or services.  The increased cost of labor, materials, and other documented costs since the last comparable bid or the last price paid are additional cost factors which shall be considered in determining fair market price.  Upon the establishment of the fair market price as provided for in this section the division is hereby empowered to negotiate directly with sheltered workshops or officials in charge of the programs of the department of social and health services for the purchase of the products or services.

          (2) Sheltered workshops may engage in the competitive bid procedure under this chapter.

 

        Sec. 2.  RCW 43.19.1908 and 1965 c 8 s 43.19.1908 are each amended to read as follows:

          Competitive bidding required by RCW 43.19.190 through 43.19.1939 shall be solicited by public notice, and through the sending of notices by mail to (1) bidders on the appropriate list of bidders who shall have qualified by application to the division of purchasing and (2) sheltered workshops under RCW 43.19.530.  Bids may be solicited by the purchasing division from any source thought to be of advantage to the state.  All bids shall be in writing and conform to rules of the division of purchasing.

 

        Sec. 3.  RCW 43.19.1911 and 1989 c 431 s 60 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) When purchases are made through competitive bidding, the contract shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, subject to any preferences provided by law to Washington products and vendors and to RCW 43.19.704, taking into consideration the quality of the articles proposed to be supplied, their conformity with specifications, the purposes for which required, and the times of delivery((:  PROVIDED, That)).  Bids of sheltered workshops shall be granted a preference over other bidders.  The preference for sheltered workshops shall be equal to ten percent of the total bid amount.  Whenever there is reason to believe that the lowest acceptable bid is not the best price obtainable, all bids may be rejected and the division of purchasing may call for new bids or enter into direct negotiations to achieve the best possible price.  Each bid with the name of the bidder shall be entered of record and each record, with the successful bid indicated, shall, after letting of the contract, be open to public inspection.  In determining "lowest responsible bidder", in addition to price, the following elements shall be given consideration:

          (((1))) (a) The ability, capacity, and skill of the bidder to perform the contract or provide the service required;

          (((2))) (b) The character, integrity, reputation, judgment, experience, and efficiency of the bidder;

          (((3))) (c) Whether the bidder can perform the contract within the time specified;

          (((4))) (d) The quality of performance of previous contracts or services;

          (((5))) (e) The previous and existing compliance by the bidder with laws relating to the contract or services;

          (((6))) (f) Such other information as may be secured having a bearing on the decision to award the contract:  PROVIDED, That in considering bids for purchase, manufacture, or lease, and in determining the "lowest responsible bidder," whenever there is reason to believe that applying the "life cycle costing" technique to bid evaluation would result in lowest total cost to the state, first consideration shall be given by state purchasing activities to the bid with the lowest life cycle cost which complies with specifications.  "Life cycle cost" means the total cost of an item to the state over its estimated useful life, including costs of selection, acquisition, operation, maintenance, and where applicable, disposal, as far as these costs can reasonably be determined, minus the salvage value at the end of its estimated useful life.  The "estimated useful life" of an item means the estimated time from the date of acquisition to the date of replacement or disposal, determined in any reasonable manner.

          (2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any state agency, department, board, commission, committee, or other state-level entity from allowing for preferential purchase of products made from recycled materials or products that may be recycled or reused.

 


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