2012 -- S 2713

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LC01063

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - STATE PURCHASES

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Sheehan, and E O`Neill

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 37-2 of the General Laws entitled "State Purchases" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     37-2-81. Duty to review contracts. – (a) With reference to section 37-2-39, the chief

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purchasing officer shall monitor all state contracts with a value greater than five hundred

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thousand dollars ($500,000) and with respect to said contracts:

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     If there is a proposed material change to the scope of the work or to one or more of the

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terms of the contract, then the chief purchasing officer shall determine in writing whether it is in

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the best interest of the state to proceed under the existing contract or, after awareness of the

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material change, to authorize said modification. Such determination shall be made prior to

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implementing the contract increase or material change and shall clearly enumerate the

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circumstances of the contract increase and/or material change and the reasons supporting the

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decision. Furthermore, such determination and the reasons supporting the decision shall not be

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deemed to establish or be considered as evidence in the litigation, arbitration or mediation of a

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claim seeking reimbursement and/or damages for delay, change in circumstances or unforeseen

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conditions. The chief purchasing officer shall file copies of the written determination with the

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senate fiscal advisor and the house fiscal advisor no later than three (3) business days after

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executing the written determination.

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     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, including any provision

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exempting any entity from the requirements of this chapter, all public corporations as defined in

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subdivision 35-20-5(4) and quasi-public agencies shall monitor their respective contracts with a

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value greater than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) and with respect to said contracts:

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     If there is a proposed material change to the scope of the work or to one or more of the

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terms of the contract, then the chief executive officer shall determine in writing whether it is in

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the best interest of the state to proceed under the existing contract or, after awareness of the

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material change, to authorize said modification. Such determination shall be made prior to

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implementing the contract increase or material change, shall comply with the requirements of

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section 37-2-6 of this chapter, and shall clearly enumerate the circumstances of the contract

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increase and/or material change and the reasons for the decision made. Furthermore, such

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determination and the reasons supporting the decision shall not be deemed to establish or be

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considered as evidence in the litigation, arbitration or mediation of a claim seeking

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reimbursement and/or damages for delay, change in circumstances or unforeseen conditions. The

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chief executive officer shall file copies of the written determination with the governor, the

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president of the senate, the speaker of the house, the director of the department of administration,

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the budget officer, the senate fiscal advisor, and the house fiscal advisor no later than three (3)

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business days after executing the written determination.

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     (c) Definitions: For the purposes of this section, the term “material change” shall mean

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any alteration to either the scope of work or to one or more terms or conditions of the contract

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such that the economic benefits thereof to the contractor, or the cost thereof to the state, would

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have influenced the public bidding process or the decision to award the contract. A ten percent

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(10%) cumulative increase in the value of the contract shall, by itself, constitute a material

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change.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall apply to all contracts

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entered into after July 1, 2011.

     

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LC01063

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - STATE PURCHASES

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     This act would require the chief purchasing officer, as well as all public corporations and

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quasi-public agencies, to monitor all state contracts with a value of greater than five hundred

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thousand dollars ($500,000) for certain change; and to authorize any material change

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modifications.

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     This act would take effect upon passage and would apply to all contracts entered into

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after July 1, 2011.

     

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LC01063

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S2713