GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1995 SESSION

CHAPTER 136
HOUSE BILL 301

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE AWARD OF STATE REQUIREMENTS CONTRACTS FOR FURNITURE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  To ensure agencies access to sufficient sources of furniture supply and service, to provide agencies the necessary flexibility to obtain furniture that is compatible with interior architectural design and needs, to provide small and disadvantaged businesses additional opportunities to participate on State requirements contracts, and to restore the traditional use of multiple award contracts for purchasing furniture requirements, each State furniture requirements contract shall be awarded on a multiple award basis, subject to the following conditions:
(1)	Competitive, sealed bids must be solicited for the contract in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes unless otherwise provided for by the State Purchasing Officer pursuant to that Article.
(2)	Subject to the provisions of this section, bids shall be evaluated and the contract awarded in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.
(3)	For each category of goods under each State requirements furniture contract, awards shall be made to at least three qualified vendors unless the State Purchasing Officer determines that three qualified vendors are not available or that it is in the best interest of the State to make fewer awards.  The State Purchasing Officer, subject to the approval of the Board of Award, shall state his reasons in writing for making fewer awards and the written documentation shall be maintained as part of the bid file and subject to public inspection.
(4)	Each agency purchasing under the contract shall make the most economical purchase that meets its needs.
Sec. 2.  Each agency shall report to the Department of Administration, in the manner prescribed by the State Purchasing Officer, its purchases from each multiple award furniture requirements contract.  The Department shall compile the information for review by the Secretary.  The Secretary shall submit a report to the General Assembly, no later than July 1, 1997, on the use of multiple award contracts for furniture.
Sec. 3.  For purposes of this section, "furniture requirements contract”means State requirements contracts for casegoods, classroom furniture, bookcases, ergonomic chairs, office swivel and side chairs, computer furniture, mobile and folding furniture, upholstered seating, commercial dining tables, and related items.
Sec. 4.  This act is effective upon ratification and applies to contracts for which bids or offers are solicited on or after that date.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 31st day of May, 1995.

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Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate

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Harold J. Brubaker
Speaker of the House of Representatives