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HD 998

An Act relative to Chapter 30B procurement through RFPs and cooperative contracts

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Kushmerek

Expands 30B procurements to require written quotes (min 3) for certain ranges, ensure lowest-cost, and authorize open, cooperative purchasing to boost competition and savings.

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Bill Summary · HD 998

HD 998 — An Act relative to Chapter 30B procurement through RFPs and cooperative contracts

Purpose and intent

This bill proposes targeted amendments to Chapter 30B to expand and formalize how governmental bodies procure goods and services, emphasizing written quotations, open competition, and the use of cooperative purchasing and RFP-based processes. The goal appears to be to increase transparency, standardize small-to-medium procurements, and leverage cooperative purchasing to obtain better prices through bulk or shared contracting.

Key provisions

  • Section 1 (Section 4(a) — quotation requirement with thresholds):
    For procurements of a supply or service by a governmental body:

    • If the amount is $10,000 or greater but not more than $50,000 (and $10,000 to $100,000 for municipal/regional school districts), the procurement officer must seek written quotations from at least 3 persons who customarily provide the item.
    • The procurement officer must record: names/addresses of all quotes sought, purchase description, names of submitters, and date/amount of each quotation. This information must be retained in the file (as per Section 3).
    • Municipal/regional school districts have a higher ceiling: up to $100,000.
    • Bodies may require that procurements up to the threshold (e.g., ≤ $50,000, or ≤ $100,000 for schools) be subject to sections 5 or 6.

  • Section 2 (Section 4(b) — award basis):
    The contract must be awarded to the responsible supplier offering the needed quality at the lowest quotation, unless the procurement is conducted under Section 6 (in which case Section 6 governs the award).

  • Section 3 (Section 6(a) — threshold alignment):
    The $50,000 figure in Section 6(a) is clarified with a parenthetical note that other rules in Section 4(a) apply “except as permitted pursuant to Section 4 subsection (a).” This links the quotation requirement to whether Section 6 procedures are used.

  • Section 4 (Section 22 — cooperative purchasing):
    Repeals the prior Section 22 and replaces it with language authorizing a public procurement unit to participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer cooperative purchasing agreements for procurements bid under Chapter 30B, with other public units or external activities, under an agreement. Importantly, such procurement must be conducted to ensure full and open competition.

Who is affected

  • State and local government bodies that use Chapter 30B procurement, including municipalities and regional public entities.
  • Municipal and regional school districts (with a higher quotation threshold).
  • Procurement officers and staff responsible for sourcing and contracting.
  • Vendors and suppliers who bid on public procurements; cooperative purchasing may expand competition and market access.
  • Public procurement units participating in or forming cooperative purchasing agreements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill introduces new thresholds and required documentation for procurements, and clarifies when Section 6 procedures apply.
  • It adds a formal framework for cooperative purchasing and requires open competition.
  • The text does not specify an effective date; enactment would require passage and signing, with implementation contingent on existing sections (notably Section 6) and potential regulations.

Notes

  • This bill references a prior similar matter (House No. 3077, 2023-2024) and is filed as HD 998 by Rep. Michael P. Kushmerek. The exact content of Section 6 (not fully included here) governs when RFPs or alternative competitive procedures apply.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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