Revises provisions relating to state purchasing. (BDR 27-458)

2025 Regular Session

Allows stacking Nevada vendor and veteran-owned preferences for a combined 10% advantage, and removes the inverse preference for out-of-state bidders.

Approved by the Governor. Chapter 373.

Summary — purpose and intent

AB 336 amends Nevada’s State Purchasing Act to (1) allow certain purchasing preferences to be combined for Nevada vendors and (2) remove the “inverse preference” applied against out‑of‑state bidders. The bill is intended to strengthen procurement advantages for Nevada‑based businesses that are also owned and operated by veterans with service‑connected disabilities.

Key provisions and statutory changes

Stacking preferences:

Permits the 5% preference for a Nevada‑based business (NRS 333.3354) to be combined with the 5% preference for a local business owned and operated by a veteran with a service‑connected disability (NRS 333.3366).
Combined effect: a qualifying vendor’s bid for goods is treated as 10% lower for award purposes; for services, proposal scores are adjusted accordingly (examples in agency guidance: a $100 bid treated as $90).

Elimination of inverse preference:

Removes NRS 333.33695, which previously allowed Nevada to impose an offsetting penalty on out‑of‑state bidders when other states gave preferences to their in‑state vendors but denied similar preferences to Nevada businesses.

Conforming edits:

Removes references to the inverse preference and updates procurement notice and award procedures in NRS 333.310, 333.3354, 333.3366, 333.340 and related sections to reflect the above changes.

Limitations retained:

Preferences cannot be applied to contracts that use federal funds unless federal law authorizes the preference.
Preferences are not available for contracts procured on a multistate basis.

Who is affected

Beneficiaries:

Nevada‑based businesses that are also owned and operated by veterans with service‑connected disabilities (now eligible for a combined 10% advantage).
Nevada agencies and purchasing officials (must apply the new combined preference and updated rules).

Potentially affected:

Out‑of‑state vendors (no longer subject to the inverse preference).
Competitive dynamics for state contracts; “best value” determinations (price and nonprice factors) may shift in favor of qualifying in‑state veteran vendors.

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced: January 28, 2025.

Committee referrals and hearings occurred during March–May 2025.

Enrolled and delivered to the Governor: June 4, 2025.

Approved by the Governor and chaptered as Chapter 373: June 6, 2025.

Fiscal effect: bill notes “Effect on the State: Yes”; no effect on local government per committee analysis.

Effective date: not specified in the materials provided (became law upon chaptering; agencies should consult the final statute for the operative effective date and implementation guidance).

Considerations

Agencies should update procurement notices, evaluation procedures, and training to reflect stacking and elimination of the inverse preference.

Vendors should review certification requirements for Nevada‑based status and veteran service‑connected disability eligibility to claim the combined preference.

Bill