A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROMOTE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COST SAVINGS THROUGH COMPETITION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 147‑33.95 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(e1)	The purpose of this subsection is to allow multiple vendors to compete and be awarded a contract based upon the value of their products and services, resulting in competitive pricing, transparency, administrative savings, expedited procurement, and flexibility for State agencies and other users. Therefore, the acquisition of computers, computer‑related devices, and networking equipment and services shall be conducted using multiple award schedule contracts, whenever the hardware and related services are available from multiple manufacturers, suppliers, or vendors. No later than October 1, 2015, the Office of Information Technology Services shall issue requests for proposals for multiple award schedule contracts for computers, computer‑related devices, and networking equipment and services that are available from multiple manufacturers, suppliers, and vendors. Contracts shall be awarded to all manufacturers, suppliers, or vendors who are qualified under the request for proposals. Contracts awarded under this subsection shall be for a term of not less than two years, with the option to renew for one additional year, with annual product and services updates. The Office of Information Technology Services shall not enter into single manufacturer contracts for the acquisition of computers, computer‑related devices, and networking equipment and services whenever the hardware and related services are available from multiple manufacturers, suppliers, or vendors.
For the purposes of this section, a "multiple award service contract" means a contract that allows multiple vendors to be awarded a contract for their information technology goods and services based on their qualifications."
SECTION 2.  The provisions of G.S. 147‑33.95(e1), as enacted by this act, do not apply to contracts awarded to multiple manufacturers, suppliers, or vendors that have been awarded under a competitive bidding process within the 24 months immediately preceding the day this act becomes law.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.