1     
PROCUREMENT CODE REVISIONS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Derrin R. Owens

5     
House Sponsor: Kay J. Christofferson

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions of the Utah Procurement Code.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     modifies a provision relating to a procurement unit's evaluation of bids;
13          ▸     provides that a procurement intended for the establishment of a state liquor store
14     may be made without engaging in a standard procurement process;
15          ▸     defines "contract price" in the context of a provision allowing a contractor to
16     increase or lower the contract price; and
17          ▸     prohibits a contractor under a multiple award contract from lowering the contract
18     price under certain circumstances.
19     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20          None
21     Other Special Clauses:
22          None
23     Utah Code Sections Affected:
24     AMENDS:
25          63G-6a-606, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 257
26          63G-6a-802, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapters 257 and 286
27          63G-6a-1206.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 355
28     

29     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

30          Section 1. Section 63G-6a-606 is amended to read:
31          63G-6a-606. Evaluation of bids -- Award -- Cancellation.
32          (1) A procurement unit that conducts a procurement using a bidding process shall
33     evaluate [each bid] bids:
34          (a) using the objective criteria described in the invitation for bids[.]; and
35          (b) to achieve the greatest long-term value to the state and the procurement unit.
36          (2) Criteria not described in the invitation for bids may not be used to evaluate a bid.
37          (3) After evaluating bids, the procurement unit shall:
38          (a) (i) award a contract as soon as practicable to the responsible bidder who submits the
39     lowest responsive bid; and
40          (ii) publish the name and bid amount of the bidder to whom the contract is awarded; or
41          (b) (i) cancel the invitation for bids without awarding a contract; and
42          (ii) publish a notice of the cancellation that includes an explanation of the reasons for
43     cancelling the invitation for bids.
44          Section 2. Section 63G-6a-802 is amended to read:
45          63G-6a-802. Award of contract without engaging in a standard procurement
46     process -- Notice -- Duty to negotiate contract terms in best interest of procurement unit.
47          (1) A procurement unit may award a contract for a procurement item without engaging
48     in a standard procurement process if the procurement official determines in writing that:
49          (a) there is only one source for the procurement item;
50          (b) (i) transitional costs are a significant consideration in selecting a procurement item;
51     and
52          (ii) the results of a cost-benefit analysis demonstrate that transitional costs are
53     unreasonable or cost-prohibitive, and that the award of a contract without engaging in a
54     standard procurement process is in the best interest of the procurement unit; [or]
55          (c) the award of a contract is under circumstances, described in rules adopted by the
56     rulemaking authority, that make awarding the contract through a standard procurement process
57     impractical and not in the best interest of the procurement unit[.]; or

58          (d) the procurement item is intended to be used for, or in connection with the
59     establishment of, a state store, as defined in Section 32B-1-102.
60          (2) Transitional costs associated with a trial use or testing of a procurement item under
61     a trial use contract awarded under Section 63G-6a-802.3 may not be included in a
62     consideration of transitional costs under Subsection (1)(b).
63          (3) (a) Subject to Subsection (3)(b), a rulemaking authority shall make rules regarding
64     the publication of notice for a procurement under this section that, at a minimum, require
65     publication of notice of the procurement, in accordance with Section 63G-6a-112, if the cost of
66     the procurement exceeds $50,000.
67          (b) Publication of notice under Section 63G-6a-112 is not required for:
68          (i) the procurement of public utility services pursuant to a sole source contract; or
69          (ii) other procurements under this section for which an applicable rule provides that
70     notice is not required.
71          (4) A procurement official who awards a contract under this section shall negotiate
72     with the contractor to ensure that the terms of the contract, including price and delivery, are in
73     the best interest of the procurement unit.
74          Section 3. Section 63G-6a-1206.5 is amended to read:
75          63G-6a-1206.5. Change in contract price.
76          (1) As used in this section, "contract price":
77          (a) means the price under an existing contract between a procurement unit and a
78     contractor; and
79          (b) does not include a proposed price or cost contained in a solicitation response or any
80     other bid, proposal, or offer submitted by a person other than the contractor under the existing
81     contract.
82          (2) A contractor may:
83          [(1)] (a) increase the contract price only in accordance with the terms of the contract;
84     and
85          [(2)] (b) subject to Subsection (3), lower the contract price at any time during the time

86     a contract is in effect.
87          (3) A contractor under a multiple award contract resulting from a bidding process may
88     not lower the contract price unless the contractor's solicitation response that led to the contract
89     award was the lowest price solicitation response.