WHEREAS, The current dental benefits contract for state employees and retirees expires on December 31, 2002;

WHEREAS, The state purchasing law, chapter 37-2, requires a competitive public bidding process for such a contract;

WHEREAS, The competitive bidding process for dental benefits contract is tentatively scheduled to be posted on the division of purchases web site in September or October of this year;

WHEREAS, A substantial period of time is required to properly undertake and administer a competitive bidding process for a major health benefits contract;

Now, therefore, it is hereby

RESOLVED, That the Senate finds the time schedule announced by the department of administration is inadequate to conduct such a complex competitive bidding process;

RESOLVED, That the Senate strongly urges the department of administration to immediately begin the competitive bidding process for the dental benefits contract for services commencing in 2003.