SUMMARY:

            This bill amends Article 10 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 to provide contractual and purchasing preferences for items and services produced in Georgia.  It amends the existing law that required the Department of Administrative Services  to give in-state preferences so that it applies to all governmental agencies’ contracting and purchasing practices.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Products included would be for amounts over $100.00 and include:
  • Supplies
  • Materials
  • Equipment
  • Agricultural products
  • School buses
• Quality is not to be sacrificed.
• Products not included would be:
  • Instructional materials
• Schools would have to give preference as far as may be reasonable and practicable to above mentioned products produced in Georgia and to in-state sellers of them without sacrificing price or quality.
• To determine reasonability when the value of product/service exceeds $10,000.00
  • Estimate of multiplier effect on the gross state domestic product
  • Effect on public revenues as determined by DOR or designee (in writing)
  • Effect on local revenues from acceptance of bid or offer from out-of-state seller (in writing)
• No local school district could divide a contract or purchase exceeding $10,000 for the purpose of avoiding the law.
• The law would apply to state, county and local governmental entities.

NOTES:

• Though desirable to purchase from in-state vendors to provide jobs and revenue for each level of government, such a procedure to prepare the estimates in writing or to document the lesser quality or greater expense of staying with in-state vendors could substantially delay such construction projects as those that required specialty lumber, stone or brick materials, etc.