South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

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Bill 572

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

AMENDED

May 17, 2006

S. 572

Introduced by Senators Leatherman and Setzler

S. Printed 5/17/06--H.

Read the first time March 30, 2006.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 11-35-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSOLIDATED PROCUREMENT CODE SUPERSEDES ANY OTHER CONFLICTING LAW; BY ADDING SECTION 11-35-3850 SO AS TO REDESIGNATE THE FORMER SECTION 11-35-4020 PROVIDING FOR THE SALE OF UNSERVICEABLE MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT BY A GOVERNMENTAL BODY; BY ADDING SECTION 11-35-4420 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER AND THE AFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL BODY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN MATTERS PENDING BEFORE OR APPEALED FROM THE PROCUREMENT REVIEW PANEL; TO AMEND SECTIONS 11-35-40, 11-35-45, 11-35-210, 11-35-310, 11-35-410, 11-35-450, 11-35-510, 11-35-540, 11-35-710, 11-35-810, 11-35-820, 11-35-830, 11-35-845, 11-35-1030, 11-35-1210, 11-35-1220, 11-35-1230, 11-35-1240, 11-35-1410, 11-35-1510, 11-35-1520, ALL AS AMENDED, SECTIONS 11-35-1525 and 11-35-1528; AND SECTIONS 11-35-1530, 11-35-1550, 11-35-1560, 11-35-1575, 11-35-1825, 11-35-2010, 11-35-2030, 11-35-2210, 11-35-2410, 11-35-2440, 11-35-2710, 11-35-2720, 11-35-3020, 11-35-3030, 11-35-3040, 11-35-3060, 11-35-3220, 11-35-3230, 11-35-3240, 11-35-3245, 11-35-3410, 11-35-3510, 11-35-3820, 11-35-3840, 11-35-4210, 11-35-4220, 11-35-4230, 11-35-4340, 11-35-4410, 11-35-5220, 11-35-5230, 11-35-5240, 11-35-5260, AND 11-35-5270, ALL AS AMENDED, ALL RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSOLIDATED PROCUREMENT CODE, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, DELETE REFERENCES TO THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES OR DIVISION OF GENERAL SERVICES OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD AND REPLACE THEM WITH THE TERMS "CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER," "DESIGNATED BOARD OFFICE," OR "DESIGNATED BOARD OFFICER," AND TO PROVIDE, FURTHER THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD DESIGNATE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICE OR SUBDIVISION OF THE BOARD OR OFFICER OR POSITION OF THE BOARD; TO REPLACE REFERENCES OF PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR "GOODS AND SERVICES" WITH "SUPPLIES, SERVICES, AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY," REFINE AND CONFORM VARIOUS COMPETITIVE BIDDING MODES, TO INCREASE MAXIMUM DOLLAR THRESHOLDS IN SEVERAL INSTANCES, TO REDUCE THE POTENTIAL BIDDERS TO BE RANKED IN CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS FROM FIVE TO THREE, TO REDUCE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT ALLOWING WAIVER OF A BOND AND SECURITY, AND TO ADJUST SMALL PURCHASE THRESHHOLDS AND AGENCY BASELINE CERTIFICATION; TO PROVIDE THAT A GOVERNMENTAL BODY HAVE A GOAL THAT TEN PERCENT OF ITS TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT OF PROCUREMENT FUNDS EXPENDED BE WITH A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE AND TO INCREASE THE TAX CREDIT FOR DEALING WITH AN MBE TO FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY OVER TEN YEARS; TO SHORTEN THE PROTEST DEADLINE; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER AND AN AFFECTED GOVERNMENTAL BODY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN A REVIEW OR APPEAL OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE OR LEGAL DECISION MADE PURSUANT TO THE PROCUREMENT CODE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3350, RELATING TO TAX CREDITS FOR STATE CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS WITH MINORITY FIRMS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE CREDIT TO FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR TEN YEARS; AND TO REPEAL SUBARTICLE 11 OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 35, TITLE 11 RELATING TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS IN KIND OF ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES BY A GOVERNMENTAL BODY; SECTION 11-35-1270, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT FOR CERTAIN SERVICES, AND SUBARTICLE 5 OF ARTICLE 15, CHAPTER 35, TITLE 11 RELATING TO THE CONTINUATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF LAW.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 35, Title 11 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 11-35-25.    If this code applies to a procurement, the provisions of this code supersede all laws or parts of laws in conflict with it to the extent of the conflict including, but not limited to, the principles of law and equity, the common law, and the Uniform Commercial Code of this State."

SECTION    2.        Subarticle 3, Article 15, Chapter 35, Title 11 of the 1976 Code, is amended by adding:

"Section 11-35-3850.    Governmental bodies approved by the board may sell any supplies owned by it after such the supplies have become entirely unserviceable and can properly be classified as 'junk', in accordance with procedures established by the Office of General Services designated board office. All sales of unserviceable supplies by the governmental body shall must be made in public to the highest bidder, after advertising for fifteen days, and the funds from such the sales shall must be credited to the account of the governmental body owning and disposing of such the unserviceable supplies."

SECTION    3.    Subarticle 3, Article 17, Chapter 35, Title 11 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 11-35-4420.        The appropriate chief procurement officer and an affected governmental body shall have the opportunity to participate fully as a party in a matter pending before the Procurement Review Panel and in an appeal of a decision of the Procurement Review Panel, whether administrative or judicial."

SECTION    4.    Section 11-35-40(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"(2)    Application to State Procurement. This code shall apply applies to every procurement or expenditure of funds by this State under contract acting through a governmental body as herein defined irrespective of the source of the funds, including federal assistance monies, except as specified in Section 11-35-40(3) (Compliance with Federal Requirements) and except that this code does not apply to gifts, to the issuance of grants, or to contracts between public procurement units, except as provided in Article 19 (Intergovernmental Relations). It shall also apply to the disposal of state supplies as provided in Article 15 (Supply Management). The provisions of this code shall apply to all procurements of information technology elements by any governmental body, irrespective of the source funds whether appropriated or not."

SECTION    5.    Section 11-35-45(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"(A)    All vouchers for payment of purchases of goods or services, supplies, or information technology shall must be delivered to the Comptroller General's office within thirty work days from acceptance of the goods or services and proper invoice. After the thirtieth work day, following acceptance or the postmark on the invoice, the Comptroller General shall levy an amount not to exceed fifteen percent per annum each year from the funds available to the agency, such this amount to be applied to the unpaid balance to be remitted to the vendor unless the vendor waives imposition of the interest penalty."

SECTION    6.    Section 11-35-210 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-210.    Written determinations and findings expressly required by the code or regulations shall must be retained in an official contract file of the governmental body administering the contract. Such These determinations shall must be documented in sufficient detail to satisfy the requirements of audit as provided for in Section 11-35-1230."

SECTION    7.        Section 11-35-310(8), (17), (19), (20), (24), (28), (35), and (36) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 356 of 2002, is further amended to read:

"(8)    'Contract' means all types of state agreements, regardless of what they may be called, for the procurement or disposal of supplies, services, information technology, or construction.

(17)    'General Services' means the Office of the Budget and Control Board. (Reserved)

(19)    'Grant' means the furnishing by the State or the United States government of assistance, whether financial or otherwise, to any a person to support a program authorized by law. It does not include an award, the primary purpose of which is to procure specified end products, whether in the form of supplies, services, information technology, or construction. A contract resulting from such an award shall must not be deemed considered a grant but a procurement contract.

(20)    'Invitation for bids' means a written or published solicitation issued by an authorized procurement officer for bids to contract for the procurement or disposal of stated supplies, services, information technology, or construction, which will ordinarily result in the award of the contract to the responsible bidder making the lowest responsive bid.

(24)    'Procurement' means buying, purchasing, renting, leasing, or otherwise acquiring any supplies, services, information technology, or construction. It also includes all functions that pertain to the obtaining of any supply, service, or construction, including description of requirements, selection, and solicitation of sources, preparation and award of contracts, and all phases of contract administration.

(28)    'Request for proposals (RFP)' means a written or published solicitation issued by an authorized procurement officer for proposals to provide supplies, or services, information technology, or construction which ordinarily result in the award of the contract to the responsible bidder making the proposal determined to be most advantageous to the State. The award of the contract must be made on the basis of evaluation factors which that must be stated in the RFP.

(35)    'Term contract' means a contract contracts established by the chief procurement officer for a specific product or service supplies, services, or information technology for a specified time and for which it is mandatory that all governmental bodies procure their requirements for the goods and services during its term. If a governmental body As provided in the solicitation, if a public procurement unit is offered goods and services the same supplies, services, or information technology at a price that is at least ten percent less than the term contract price for the same goods or services, it may purchase from the vendor offering the lower price after first offering the vendor holding the term contract the option to meet the lower price. The solicitation used to establish the term contract must specify contract terms applicable to a purchase from the vendor offering the lower price. If the vendor holding the term contract meets the lower price, then the governmental body must shall purchase from the contract vendor. All decisions to purchase from the vendor offering the lower price must be documented by the procurement officer in sufficient detail to satisfy the requirements of an external audit. A term contract may be a multi-term contract as provided in Section 11-35-2030.

(36)    'Using agency' means any governmental body of the State which utilizes any supplies, services, information technology, or construction purchased under this code."

SECTION    8.    Section 11-35-310 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 356 of 2002, is further amended by adding:

"(37)    'Designated board office' and 'Designated board officer' means the office or officer designated in accordance with Section 11-35-540(5)."

SECTION    9.    Section 11-35-410 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-410.    (A)    Procurement information shall must be a public record to the extent required by Chapter 4 of Title 30 (The Freedom of Information Act) with the exception that commercial or financial information obtained in response to a 'request for proposals' or any type of bid solicitation which that is privileged and confidential need not be disclosed.

(B)    Privileged and confidential information is information in specific detail not customarily released to the general public, the release of which might cause harm to the competitive position of the party supplying the information. Examples of this type of information would include:

(1)    customer lists;

(2)    design recommendations and identification of prospective problem areas under an RFP;

(3)    design concepts, including methods and procedures;

(4)    biographical data on key employees of the bidder.

(C)    For all documents submitted in response or with regard to a solicitation or other request, the documents need not be disclosed if an award is not made.

(D)    Evaluative documents predecisional in nature such as inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda containing technical evaluations and recommendations are exempted so long as the contract award does not expressly adopt or incorporate the inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda reflecting the predecisional deliberations.

(E)    At the time of submitting a proposal or bid, the party supplying a bid or proposal must identify any portions of the proposal or bid considered by the party to be a trade secret and thus eligible to be withheld from public inspection and copying. If the information identified by the party is a trade secret, as defined in Section 30-4-40(a)(1), it may be withheld from public inspection and copying. If the party fails to identify information as a trade secret, the entire bid or proposal is to be made available for public inspection and copying. For all documents submitted in response or with regard to any solicitation or other request, the person submitting the documents shall comply with instructions provided in the solicitation for marking information exempt from public disclosure. Information not marked as required by the applicable instructions may be disclosed to the public."

SECTION    10.    The first paragraph of Section 11-35-450(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"The purchase of furniture, floor coverings, wall coverings, or any other decorative or ornamental item by a governmental body for at least one of the following uses must be reported to the governing board, commission, or council of the respective governmental body before the purchase, when the cost of the furniture, covering, or item exceeds five hundred one thousand dollars, before the purchase and it is to be used in:

(1)    an office or adjoining reception area utilized by an agency director or assistant agency director; or

(2)    a board room or a conference room used as a board room."

SECTION    11.    Section 11-35-510 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-510.    All rights, powers, duties, and authority relating to the procurement of supplies, services, and information technology and to the management, control, warehousing, sale and disposal of supplies, construction, information technology, and services now vested in or exercised by any a state governmental body under pursuant to the provisions of law relating thereto, and regardless of source of funding, are hereby vested in the Office of General Services appropriate chief procurement officer. This vesting of authority shall be is subject to Sections 11-35-710 (Exemptions), 11-35-1250 (Authority to Contract for Auditing Services), 11-35-1260 (Authority to Contract for Legal Services), 11-35-1270 (Authority to Contract for Certain Services), Section 11-35-1550 (Small Purchases), Section 11-35-1570 (Emergency Procurements), 11-35-3230 (Exception for Small Architect-Engineer, and Land Surveying Services Contracts), and Section 11-35-3620 (Management of Warehouses and Inventory)."

SECTION    12.    Section 11-35-540 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-540.    (1)    Authority to Promulgate Regulations. Except as otherwise provided in this code, the board shall have the authority and responsibility to may promulgate regulations, consistent with this code, governing the procurement, management, control, and disposal of any and all supplies, services, information technology, and construction to be procured by the State. Such These regulations shall be are binding in all procurements made by the State.

(2)    Nondelegation. The board shall may not delegate its power to promulgate regulations.

(3)    Approval of Operational Procedures. Governmental bodies shall be authorized to develop internal operational procedures consistent with this code; provided except, that such the operational procedures shall must be certified approved in writing by the appropriate chief procurement officer as being consistent with this chapter. The operational procedures must be consistent with this chapter. Operational procedures adopted pursuant to this chapter are exempt from the requirements of Section 1-23-140.

(4)    The board as a whole or acting through its procurement policy committee shall consider and decide matters of policy within the provisions of this code including those referred to it by the chief procurement officers. The board shall have has the power to audit and monitor the implementation of its regulations and the requirements of this code.

(5)    For every reference in this code to a 'designated board office', the chief executive officer of the board shall designate the office or other subdivision of the board that is responsible for the referenced statutory role. For every reference in this code to a 'designated board officer', the chief executive officer of the board shall designate the board officer or other board position that is responsible for the referenced statutory role. More than one office or officer may be designated for any referenced statutory role. All designations pursuant to this subparagraph must be submitted in writing to the chief procurement officers."

SECTION    13.    Section 11-35-710 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 264 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-710.    The board, upon the recommendation of the Office of General Services designated board office, may exempt governmental bodies from purchasing certain items through the respective chief procurement officer's area of responsibility. The board may exempt specific supplies, or services, information technology, or construction from the purchasing procedures required in this section chapter and for just cause by unanimous written decision limit or may withdraw exemptions provided for in this section. The following exemptions are granted in from this chapter:

(1)    the construction, maintenance, and repair of bridges, highways, and roads; vehicle and road equipment maintenance and repair; and any other emergency type emergency-type parts or equipment utilized by the Department of Transportation or the Department of Public Safety;

(2)    the purchase of raw materials by the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Division of Prison Industries;

(3)    S.C. South Carolina State Ports Authority;

(4)    Division of Public Railways of the Department of Commerce;

(5)    S.C. South Carolina Public Service Authority;

(6)    expenditure of funds at state institutions of higher learning derived wholly from athletic or other student contests, from the activities of student organizations, and from the operation of canteens and bookstores, except as the funds are used for the procurement of construction, architect-engineer, construction-management, and land surveying services;

(7)    livestock, feed, and veterinary supplies;

(8)    articles for commercial sale by all governmental bodies;

(9)    fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, milk, and eggs;

(10)    South Carolina Arts Commission and South Carolina Museum Commission for the purchase of one-of-a-kind items such as paintings, antiques, sculpture, and similar objects. Before any a governmental body procures the objects, the head of the purchasing agency shall prepare a written determination specifying the need for the objects and the benefits to the State. The South Carolina Arts Commission shall review the determination and forward a recommendation to the board for approval;

(11)    published books, periodicals, and technical pamphlets;

(12)    South Carolina Research Authority;

(13)    the purchase of goods, products, and services supplies, services, or information technology by state offices, departments, institutions, agencies, boards, and commissions or the political subdivisions of this State from the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Division of Prison Industries.;

(14)    Medical University Hospital Authority, provided if the Medical University Hospital Authority has promulgated a procurement process in accordance with its enabling provision."

SECTION    14.    Section 11-35-810 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-810.    There is hereby created, within the Office of General Services board, a Materials Management Office to be headed by the Materials Management Officer."

SECTION    15.    Section 11-35-820 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-820.    There is hereby created within the Office of General Services board, the Information Technology Management Office to be headed by the Information Technology Management Officer. All procurements involving information technology, and any pre-procurement and post-procurement activities in this area, shall must be conducted in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the board, except as otherwise provided for in this code by specific reference to the Information Technology Management Office."

SECTION    16.    Section 11-35-830 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-830.    There is hereby created within the Office of General Services board, the State Engineer's Office to be headed by the State Engineer. All procurements involving construction, architectural and engineering, construction management, and land surveying services, as defined in Section 11-35-2910, and any pre-procurement and post-procurement activities in this area, shall must be conducted in accordance with the 'Manual for Planning and Execution of State Permanent Improvements' and with any regulations promulgated by the board, except as unless otherwise provided for in this code by specific reference to the State Engineer's Office."

SECTION    17.    Section 11-35-845 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-845.    Each agency of state government that has total management capability as defined and certified by the Office of General Services shall State Engineer's Office must be allowed to oversee the administration of permanent improvement construction projects with the State Engineer's Office serving as an audit function. The State Engineer's Office shall assist those small agencies who do not have the necessary expertise in permanent improvements."

SECTION    18.    Section 11-35-1030 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-1030.    The Office of General Services chief procurement officers shall develop a system of training for procurement in accordance with regulations by the board. Such The training shall must encompass the latest techniques and methods of public procurement. If deemed considered appropriate by the Office of General Services chief procurement officers, such the training shall must include a requirement for the certification of the procurement officer of each purchasing agency."

SECTION    19.    Section 11-35-1210(1) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"(1)    Authority.    The board may assign differential dollar limits below which individual governmental bodies may make direct procurements not under term contracts. The Office of General Services designated board office shall review the respective governmental body's internal procurement operation, shall certify in writing that it is consistent with the provisions of this code and the ensuing regulations, and recommend to the board those dollar limits for the respective governmental body's procurement not under term contract."

SECTION    20.    Section 11-35-1220 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-1220.    The Office of General Services shall chief procurement officers are authorized to prepare statistical data concerning the procurement, use, and disposition of all supplies, services, information technology, and construction. All using agencies shall furnish such these reports as the Office of General Services chief procurement officers may require concerning use, needs, and stocks on hand, and the chief procurement officers shall prescribe forms to be used by the using agencies in requisitioning, ordering, and reporting supplies, services, information technology, and construction. The chief procurement officers shall limit requests for information to those items necessary for the effective operation of the purchasing system, but using agencies shall must be required to provide information as requested."

SECTION    21.    Section 11-35-1230(1) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"(1)    The Office of General Services designated board office, through consultation with the chief procurement officers, shall develop written plans for the auditing of state procurements.

In procurement audits of governmental bodies thereafter, the auditors from the Office of General Services designated board office shall review the adequacy of the system's internal controls in order to ensure compliance with the requirement of this code and the ensuing regulations. Any A noncompliance discovered through audit must be transmitted in management letters to the audited governmental body and the Budget and Control Board. The auditors shall provide in writing proposed corrective action to governmental bodies. Based upon audit recommendations of the Office of General Services designated board office, the board may revoke certification as provided for in Section 11-35-1210 and require the governmental body to make all procurements through the office of materials management appropriate chief procurement officer above a dollar limit set by the board, until such time as the board is assured of compliance with this code and its regulations by that governmental body."

SECTION    22.    Section 11-35-1240 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-1240.    (A)    The board shall prescribe administrative penalties for violation of the provisions of this code and of regulations promulgated thereunder under it, excluding those matters under the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission as provided by law.

(B)    Violation of these provisions shall be is grounds for loss of or reduction in authority delegated by either the board or this code."

SECTION    23.    Section 11-35-1410(2)(c) and (4) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"(c)    states prices at which sales are currently or were last made to a significant number of buyers constituting the general buying public for the supplies, or services, or information technology involved.

(4)    'Purchase description' means specifications or any other document describing the supplies, services, information technology, or construction to be procured."

SECTION    24.    Section 11-35-1510 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"Section    11-35-1510.    Unless otherwise provided by law, all state contracts shall must be awarded by competitive sealed bidding, pursuant to Section 11-35-1520, except as provided in:

(1)    Section 11-35-1250 (Authority to Contract for Auditing Services);

(2)    Section 11-35-1260 (Authority to Contract for Legal Services);

(3)    Section 11-35-1525 (Fixed Priced Bidding);

(2)(4)    Section 11-35-1528 (Competitive Best Value Bidding);

(3)    Section 11-35-1250 (Authority to Contract for Auditing Services);

(4)    Section 11-35-1260 (Authority to Contract for Legal Services);

(5)    Section 11-35-1270 (Authority to Contract for Certain Services) Section 11-35-1529 (Competitive On-line Bidding);

(6)    Section 11-35-1530 (Competitive Sealed Proposals);

(7)    Section 11-35-1540 (Negotiations After Unsuccessful Competitive Sealed Bidding);

(8)    Section 11-35-1550 (Small Purchases);

(9)    Section 11-35-1560 (Sole Source Procurements);

(10)    Section 11-35-1570 (Emergency Procurements);

(11)    Section 11-35-1575 (Procurements at Participation in Auction or Bankruptcy Sale);

(12)    Section 11-35-1580 (Procurement of Information Technology); (Reserved)

(13)    Section 11-35-3020 (Construction Procurement Procedures);

(14)    Section 11-35-3220 (Architect-Engineer, Construction Management and Land Surveying Services Procurement Procedures);

(15)    Section 11-35-3230 (Exception for Small Architect-Engineer and Land Surveying Services Contracts)

(16)    Section 11-35-1529 (Competitive On-line Bidding)."

SECTION    25.    Section 11-35-1520 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-1520.        (1)    Condition for Use. Contracts amounting to twenty-five greater than fifty thousand dollars or more shall must be awarded by competitive sealed bidding except as otherwise provided in Section 11-35-1510.

(2)    Invitation for Bids.    An invitation for bids shall must be issued in an efficient and economical manner and shall must include specifications and all contractual terms and conditions applicable to the procurement.

(3)    Notice.        Adequate notice of the invitation for bids shall must be given at a reasonable time prior to before the date set forth therein in it for the opening of bids. Such The notice shall must include publications in a newspaper of general circulation in the State such as 'South Carolina Business Opportunities' or through a means of central electronic advertising as approved by the Office of General Services designated board office. Governmental bodies may charge vendors the cost incurred for copying and mailing bid or proposal documents requested in response to a procurement.

(4)    Receipt and Safeguarding of Bids.    All bids, (including modifications), received prior to before the time of opening shall must be kept secure and unopened, except as provided for by regulation of the board.

(5)    Bid Opening.    Bids shall must be opened publicly in the presence of one or more witnesses, at the time and place designated in the invitation for bids and in the manner prescribed by regulation of the board. The amount of each bid, and such other relevant information as may be specified by regulation, together with the name of each bidder, shall must be tabulated. The tabulation shall must be open to the public inspection at that time.

(6)    Bid Acceptance and Bid Evaluation. Bids shall must be accepted unconditionally without alteration or correction, except as otherwise authorized in this code. The invitation for bids shall must set forth the evaluation criteria to be used. No criteria may Criteria must not be used in bid evaluation that are not set forth in the invitation for bids. Bids shall must be evaluated based on the requirements set forth in the invitation for bids and in accordance with the regulations of the board.

(7)    Correction or Withdrawal of Bids; Cancellation of Awards. Correction or withdrawal of inadvertently erroneous bids before bid opening, withdrawal of inadvertently erroneous bids after award, or cancellation and reaward of awards or contracts, after award but prior to before performance, may be permitted in accordance with regulations promulgated by the board. After bid opening, no changes in bid prices or other provisions of bids prejudicial to the interest of the State or fair competition shall must not be permitted. After opening, bids must not be corrected or withdrawn except in accordance with the provisions of this code and the regulations promulgated pursuant to it. Except as otherwise provided by regulation, all decisions to permit the correction or withdrawal of bids, or to cancel awards, or contracts, after award but prior to before performance, shall must be supported by a written determination of appropriateness made by the chief procurement officers or head of a purchasing agency.

(8)    Discussion with Bidders. As provided in the invitation for bids, discussions may be conducted with apparent responsive bidders for the purpose of clarification to assure full understanding of the requirements of the invitation for bids. All bids, in the procuring agency's sole judgment, needing clarification shall must be accorded such an that opportunity. Clarification of any a bidder's bid must be documented in writing by the procurement officer and shall must be included with the bid. Documentation concerning the clarification shall must be subject to disclosure upon request as required by Section 11-35-410.

(9)    Tie Bids. If two or more bidders are tied in price while otherwise meeting all of the required conditions, awards are determined as follows in the following order of priority:

(a)    If there is a South Carolina firm tied with an out-of-state firm, the award must be made automatically to the South Carolina firm.

(b)    Tie bids involving South Carolina produced or manufactured products, when known, and items produced or manufactured out of the State must be resolved in favor of the South Carolina commodity.

(c)    Tie bids involving a business certified by the South Carolina Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance as a Minority Business Enterprise must be resolved in favor of the Minority Business Enterprise.

(d)    Tie bids involving South Carolina firms must be resolved in favor of the South Carolina firm located in the same taxing jurisdiction as the governmental body's consuming location.

(d)    Tie bids involving South Carolina firms in the same taxing jurisdiction as the governmental body's consuming location must be resolved by the flip of a coin in the office of the chief procurement officer or the head of a purchasing agency or either officer's designee witnessed by all interested parties.

(e)    In all other situations where in which bids are tied, the award will must be made by the purchasing agency to the tied bidder offering the quickest delivery time, or if the tied bidders have offered the same delivery time, the tie shall must be resolved by the flip of a coin in the office of the chief procurement officer or the head of a purchasing agency or either officer's designee witnessed by all interested parties the procurement officer. All responding vendors must be invited to attend.

(10)    Award. Unless there is a compelling reason to reject bids as prescribed by regulation of the board, notice of an award or an intended award of a contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidders whose bid meets the requirements set forth in the invitation for bids shall must be given by posting such the notice at a location specified in the invitation for bids. For contracts with a total or potential value in excess of fifty thousand dollars but less than one hundred thousand dollars, notice of the award of a contract must be given by posting and must be sent to all bidders responding to the solicitation on the same day that the notice is posted in accordance with this section. For contracts with a total or potential value of one hundred thousand dollars or greater, notice of an intended award of a contract must be given by posting the notice for ten days before entering into a contract and must be sent to all bidders responding to the solicitation on the same day that the notice is posted in accordance with this section. The posting date shall appear on the face of all these notices. Prior to Before the posting of the award, the procuring agency may negotiate with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to lower his bid within the scope of the invitation for bids. The invitation for bids and the posted notice a notice of award or notice of intent to award must contain a statement of a bidder's right to protest under pursuant to Section 11-35-4210(1) and the date and location of posting must be announced at bid opening. When a contract has a total or potential value in excess of fifty thousand dollars, in addition to the posted notice, notice of an intended award must be given to all bidders responding to the solicitation, except when only one response is received. Such notice must contain a statement of the bidder's right to protest under Section 11-35-4210(1).

When a contract has a total or potential value in excess of fifty thousand dollars, sixteen days after notice is given the agency may enter a contract with the bidder named in the notice in accordance with the provisions of this code and of the bid solicited. When only one response is received, the notice of intended intent to award and the sixteen-day delay of award may be waived. A determination of responsibility must be made before award in accordance with Section 11-35-1810.

(11)    Request for Qualifications. (a)    Prior to Before soliciting bids, the procuring agency, acting through the authorized procurement officer, may issue a request for qualifications from prospective bidders. Such The request shall must contain, at a minimum, a description of the goods or services scope of work to be solicited by the invitation for bids, the general scope of the work, the deadline for submission of information, and how prospective bidders may apply for consideration. The request shall must require information concerning the prospective bidders' product specifications, qualifications, experience, and ability to perform the requirements of the contract. Adequate public notice of the request for qualifications shall must be given in the manner provided in Section 11-35-1520(3). The use of the request for qualifications is subject to the approval of the Office of General Services.

(b)    After receipt of the responses to the request for qualifications from prospective bidders, the prospective bidders shall be ranked rank of the prospective bidders must be determined in writing from most qualified to least qualified on the basis of the information provided. Bids shall then must be solicited from at least the top two prospective bidders by means of an invitation for bids. The failure of a prospective bidder to be selected to receive the invitation for bids shall not be grounds for protest under Section 11-35-4210. The determination regarding how many bids to solicit is not subject to review under Article 17.

(12)    Provisions Not to Apply. The provisions of this section shall not apply to maintenance services for aircraft of the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Commerce. (Reserved)

(13)    Minor Informalities and Irregularities in Bids. A minor informality or irregularity is one which is merely a matter of form or is some immaterial variation from the exact requirements of the invitation for bids having no effect or merely a trivial or negligible effect on total bid price, quality, quantity, or delivery of the supplies or performance of the contract, and the correction or waiver of which would not be prejudicial to bidders. The procurement officer shall either give the bidder an opportunity to cure any deficiency resulting from a minor informality or irregularity in a bid or waive any such deficiency when it is to the advantage of the State. Such communication or determination shall be in writing. Examples of minor informalities or irregularities include, but are not limited to:

(a)    failure of a bidder to return the number of copies of signed bids required by the solicitation;

(b)    failure of a bidder to furnish the required information concerning the number of the bidder's employees or failure to make a representation concerning its size;

(c)    failure of a bidder to sign its bid, but only if the firm submitting the bid has formally adopted or authorized the execution of documents by typewritten, printed, or rubber stamped signature and submits evidence of such that authorization, and the bid carries such a that signature or the unsigned bid is accompanied by other material indicating the bidder's intention to be bound by the unsigned document, such as the submission of a bid guarantee with the bid or a letter signed by the bidder with the bid referring to and identifying the bid itself;

(d)    failure of a bidder to acknowledge receipt of an amendment to a solicitation, but only if:

(i)        the bid received indicates in some way that the bidder received the amendment, such as where the amendment added another item to the solicitation and the bidder submitted a bid, thereon, provided that on it, if the bidder states under oath that it received the amendment prior to before bidding and that the bidder will stand by its bid price; or,

(ii)    the amendment has no effect on price or quantity or merely a trivial or negligible effect on quality or delivery, and is not prejudicial to bidders, such as an amendment correcting a typographical mistake in the name of the governmental body;

(e)    failure of a bidder to furnish an affidavit concerning affiliates;

(f)    failure of a bidder to execute the certifications with respect to equal opportunity and affirmative action programs;

(g)    failure of a bidder to furnish cut sheets or product literature;

(h)    failure of a bidder to furnish certificates of insurance;

(i)        failure of a bidder to furnish financial statements;

(j)        failure of a bidder to furnish references;

(k)    failure of a bidder to furnish its bidder number; and

(l)        notwithstanding Section 40-11-180 Title 40, the failure of a bidder to indicate his contractor's license number or other evidence of licensure, provided that no except that a contract shall must not be awarded to the bidder unless and until the bidder is properly licensed under the laws of South Carolina."

SECTION    26.    Section 11-35-1525(2) and (4) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 153 of 1997, is amended to read:

"(2)    Fixed Price Bidding. The purpose of fixed price bidding is to provide multiple sources of supply for specific goods or services, supplies, or information technology based on a preset maximum price which the State will pay for such goods or services, supplies, or information technology.

(4)    Pricing. The State shall establish, prior to before issuance of the fixed price bid, a maximum amount the State will pay for the goods or services, supplies, or information technology desired."

SECTION    27.    Section 11-35-1528(2) and (5) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 153 of 1997, is amended to read:

"(2)    Best Value Bidding.    The purpose of best value bidding is to allow factors other than price to be considered in the determination of award for specific goods or supplies, services, or information technology based on pre-determined criteria identified by the State.

(5)    Evaluation Factors.    The best value bid shall must state the factors to be used in determination of award and the numerical weighting for each factor. Cost must be a factor in determination of award and cannot be weighted at less than sixty percent. Best value bid evaluation factors may include, but are not limited to, any of the following as determined by the purchasing agency procurement officer in its sole discretion and not subject to protest:

(a)    operational costs that the State would incur if the bid is accepted;

(b)    quality of the product or service, or its technical competency;

(c)    reliability of delivery and implementation schedules;

(d)    maximum facilitation of data exchange and systems integration;

(e)    warranties, guarantees, and return policy;

(f)    vendor financial stability;

(g)    consistency of the proposed solution with the state's planning documents and announced strategic program direction;

(h)    quality and effectiveness of business solution and approach;

(i)        industry and program experience;

(j)        prior record of vendor performance;

(k)    vendor expertise with engagement of similar scope and complexity;

(l)        extent and quality of the proposed participation and acceptance by all user groups;

(m)    proven development methodologies and tools; and

(n)    innovative use of current technologies and quality results."

SECTION    28.    Section 11-35-1530 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-1530.    (1)    Conditions for Use. When If a purchasing agency determines in writing that the use of competitive sealed bidding is either not practicable or not advantageous to the State, a contract may be entered into by competitive sealed proposals subject to the provisions of Section 11-35-1520 and the ensuing regulations, unless otherwise provided for in this section. Subject to the requirements of Section 11-35-3220, the board may provide by regulation that it is either not practicable or not advantageous to the State to procure specified types of supplies, services, information technology, or construction by competitive sealed bidding.

(2)    Public Notice. Adequate public notice of the request for proposals shall must be given in the same manner as provided in Section 11-35-1520(3).

(3)    Receipt of Proposals. Proposals shall must be opened publicly in accordance with regulations of the board. A tabulation of proposals shall must be prepared in accordance with regulations promulgated by the board and shall must be open for public inspection after contract award.

(4)    Request for Qualifications. Prior to (a)    Before soliciting proposals, the procuring agency, acting through the authorized procurement officer, may issue a request for qualifications from prospective offerors. Such The request shall must contain at a minimum a description of the goods or services scope of the work to be solicited by the request for proposals and the general scope of the work and shall must state the deadline for submission of information and how prospective offerors may apply for consideration. The request shall must require information only on their qualifications, experience, and ability to perform the requirements of the contract.

(b)    After receipt of the responses to the request for qualifications from prospective offerors, the perspective offerors shall be ranked rank of the prospective offerors must be determined in writing from most qualified to least qualified on the basis of the information provided. Proposals shall then must be solicited from at least the top two prospective offerors by means of a request for proposals. The failure of a prospective offeror to be selected to receive the request for proposals shall not be grounds for protest under Section 11-35-4210. The determination regarding how many proposals to solicit is not subject to review pursuant to Article 17.

(5)    Evaluation Factors. The request for proposals shall must state the relative importance of the factors to be considered in evaluating proposals but shall may not require a numerical weighting for each factor. Price may, but need not, be an evaluation factor.

(6)    Discussion with Offerors. As provided in the request for proposals, and under regulations, discussions may be conducted with apparent responsive offerors who submit proposals determined to be reasonably susceptible of being selected for award for the purpose of clarification to assure full understanding of the requirements of, and responsiveness to, the request for proposals solicitation requirements. All offerors, whose proposals, in the procuring agency's procurement officer's sole judgment, need clarification shall must be accorded such an that opportunity.

(7)    Selection and Ranking. Proposals shall must be evaluated using only the criteria stated in the request for proposals and there must be adherence to any weightings that have been assigned previously assigned. Once evaluation is complete, all responsive offerors shall must be ranked from most advantageous to least advantageous to the State, considering only the evaluation factors stated in the request for proposals. If price is an initial evaluation factor, award shall must be made in accordance with Section 11-35-1530(9) below.

(8)    Negotiations. Whether price was an evaluation factor or not, the procuring agency, through the appropriate procurement official officer, may, in its his sole discretion and not subject to challenge through a protest filed under Section 11-35-4210, review under Article 17, may proceed in any of the manners indicated below, except that in no case may confidential information derived from proposals and negotiations submitted by competing offerors be disclosed:

(a)    negotiate price with the highest ranked offeror. If a satisfactory price cannot be agreed upon, price negotiations may be conducted, in the sole discretion of the procuring agency, with the second, and then the third, and so on, ranked offerors to such level of ranking as determined by the procuring agency in its sole discretion; or

(b)    negotiate with the highest ranking offeror on price, on matters affecting the scope of the contract, so long as the overall nature and intent of the contract is not changed changes are within the general scope of the request for proposals, or on both. If a satisfactory contract cannot be negotiated with the highest ranking offeror, negotiations may be conducted, in the sole discretion of the procuring agency procurement officer, with the second, and then the third, and so on, ranked offerors to such the level of ranking as determined by the procuring agency procurement officer in its his sole discretion; or

(c)(b)    during the negotiation process as outlined in subsections (a) and (b) item (a) above, if an agency the procurement officer is unsuccessful in its his first round of negotiations, it he may reopen negotiations with any offeror with whom it he previously negotiated; or

(d)(c)    if, after following the procedures set forth in Section 11-35-1530(8), a contract is not able to be negotiated, the procurement officer may make changes within the general scope of the request for proposals may be changed in an effort to reduce the cost to a fair and reasonable amount, and may provide all responsive offerors must be allowed an opportunity to submit their best and final offers.

In conducting negotiations, there must be no disclosure of any confidential information derived from proposals and negotiations submitted by competing offerors.

(9)    Award. Award must be made to the responsive responsible offeror whose proposal is determined in writing to be the most advantageous to the State, taking into consideration price and the evaluation factors set forth in the request for proposals, unless the procuring agency procurement officer determines to utilize one of the options provided in Section 11-35-1530(8). The contract file shall must contain the basis on which the award is made and must be sufficient to satisfy external audit. Procedures and requirements for the notification of intent to award the contract shall must be the same as those stated provided in Section 11-35-1520(10)."

SECTION    29.    Section 11-35-1550 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-1550.    Authority.    (1)    The following small purchase procedures may be utilized only in conducting procurements for governmental bodies that are less than twenty-five up to fifty thousand dollars in actual or potential value. An agency A governmental body may conduct its own procurement under five up to fifty thousand dollars in actual or potential value, and an agency a governmental body that has received procurement certification pursuant to Section 11-35-1210 to handle the type and estimated value of the procurement may conduct the procurement under its own authority in accordance with the procedures prescribed in this section; however, procurement code. Procurement requirements must not be artificially divided by governmental bodies so as to constitute a small purchase under pursuant to this section.

(2)    Competition and Price Reasonableness. (a) Purchases not in excess of One two thousand five hundred dollars. Small purchases not exceeding one two thousand five hundred dollars may be accomplished without securing competitive quotations if the prices are considered to be reasonable. The purchasing office shall must annotate the purchase requisition: 'Price is fair and reasonable' and sign. The purchases must be distributed equitably among qualified suppliers. When practical, a quotation must be solicited from other than the previous supplier before placing a repeat order. The administrative cost of verifying the reasonableness of the price of purchase 'not in excess of' may more than offset potential savings in detecting instances of overpricing. Action to verify the reasonableness of the price need be taken only when the procurement officer of the governmental body suspects that the price may not be reasonable, comparison to previous price paid, or personal knowledge of the item involved.

(b)    Purchases from one thousand five hundred one dollars to five thousand dollars. Solicitations of verbal or written quotes from a minimum of three qualified sources of supply must be made and documentation of the quotes attached to the purchase requisition. The award shall be made to the lowest responsive and responsible source.

(c)    Purchases from five over two thousand one five hundred dollars to ten thousand dollars. Solicitation of written quotes from a minimum of three qualified sources of supply must be made and documentation of the quotes attached to the purchase requisition for a small purchase over two thousand five hundred dollars but not in excess of ten thousand dollars. The award must be made to the lowest responsive and responsible sources.

(d)(c)    Purchases from over ten thousand one dollars up to twenty-five fifty thousand dollars. Written solicitation of written quotes, bids, or proposals shall must be made for a small purchase over ten thousand dollars but not in excess of fifty thousand dollars. The procurement must be advertised at least once in the South Carolina Business Opportunities publication or through a means of central electronic advertising as approved by the Office of General Services designated board office. A copy of the written solicitation and written quotes must be attached to the purchase requisition. The award shall must be made to the lowest responsive and responsible source or, when a request for proposal process is used, the highest ranking offeror.

(3)    Protest rights. The provisions of Section 11-35-4210 do not apply to contracts awarded under the procedures set forth in this section.

(4)    All competitive procurements above twenty-five ten thousand dollars must be advertised at least once in the South Carolina Business Opportunities publication or through a means of central electronic advertising as approved by the Office of General Services designated board office. Governmental bodies may charge vendors the cost incurred for copying and mailing bid or proposal documents requested in response to a procurement advertised in the "South Carolina Business Opportunities" publication.

(4)    The Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Commerce may act as its own purchasing agency for all procurements of maintenance services for aircraft and these procurements may be conducted pursuant to Section 11-35-1550(2)(b)."

SECTION    30.    Section 11-35-1560 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-1560.    (A)    A contract may be awarded for a supply, service, information technology, or construction item without competition when if, under regulations promulgated by the board, the chief procurement officer, the head of a purchasing agency, or a designee of either officer, above the level of the procurement officer, determines in writing that there is only one source for the required supply, service, information technology, or construction item.

(B)    These regulations must include the requirements contained in this paragraph. Written documentation must include the determination and basis for the proposed sole source procurement. Any A delegation of authority by either the chief procurement officer or the head of a governmental body with respect to sole source determinations must be submitted in writing to the Materials Management Officer. In cases of reasonable doubt, competition must be solicited. Any decision by a governmental body that a procurement be restricted to one potential vendor must be accompanied by an explanation as to why no other will be suitable or acceptable to meet the need.

(C)    Any A violation of these regulations by a purchasing agency shall, upon recommendation of the Office of General Services designated board office with approval of the majority of the Budget and Control Board, must result in the temporary suspension, not to exceed one year, of the violating agency's governmental body's ability to procure supplies, services, information technology, or construction items under pursuant to this section."

SECTION    31.    Section 11-35-1575 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 153 of 1997, is amended to read:

"Section 11-35-1575.    A governmental body having knowledge of either an auction or a sale of supplies from a bankruptcy may elect to participate. The governmental body shall (a) survey the needed items being offered at auction to ascertain their condition and usefulness, (b) determine a fair market value for new like items through informal quotes, (c) determine the fair market value from similar items considering age and useful life, and (d) estimated repair cost and delivery cost, if any, of the desired items. Using this information, the governmental body shall determine the maximum price that it can pay for each item desired. At the auction or sale, the governmental body shall not exceed the maximum price so determined."

SECTION    32.    RESERVED.

SECTION    33.    Section 11-35-1825 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-1825.    The State Engineer's Office shall develop a procedure and a list of criteria for pre-qualifying prequalifying construction bidders and sub-bidders. The criteria shall must include, but not be limited to, prior performance, recent past references on all aspects of performance, financial stability, and experience on similar construction projects. A governmental body may use the prequalification process only for projects where the construction involved is unique in nature or over ten million dollars in value as determined by and subject to the approval of the State Engineer's Office. All prequalification projects shall must be under the supervision of the State Engineer's Office, unless the project falls within the governmental body's procurement certification limits.

When the prequalification process is employed, only those bidders or sub-bidders who are prequalified through this procedure are entitled to may submit a bid for the project. The determination of which bidders and sub-bidders are prequalified, and thereby entitled to bid, is not protestable under pursuant to Section 11-35-4210 or any other provision of this code."

SECTION    34.    Section 11-35-2010 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-2010.    (1)    Types of Contracts. Subject to the limitations of this section, any type of contract which that will promote the best interests of the State may be used, except that the use of a cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost contract shall must be approved by the Office of General Services appropriate chief procurement officer. A cost-reimbursement contract, including a cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost contract, shall may be used only when a determination sufficient for external audit is prepared showing that such the contract is likely to be less costly to the State than any other type or that it is impracticable to obtain the supplies, services, information technology, or construction required except under such a that contract.

(2)    Contract Forms. The board shall promulgate by regulation the form of the contracts to be used in connection with state purchasing and construction. The forms as shall be developed for Article 9 of this chapter shall be printed as a part of those regulations. A governmental body may enter into a contract or agreement without using the form promulgated pursuant to the board's regulation when the contract or agreement is for the rental of equipment valued at ten thousand dollars or less and the duration of the contract or agreement does not exceed ninety days.

(2)(a)    As used in this section:

(i)        'Contracting document' means a standardized or model instrument, or a component part of it, for use as a contract, invitation for bids, request for proposals, request for qualifications, or instruction to bidders including, but not limited to, a contract clause or solicitation provision.

(ii)    'Usage instructions' means directions regarding (1) conditions for use of a contracting document, (2) completion of a contracting document, and (3) the process for obtaining permission, if possible, to omit or depart from the contracting document's established content for a particular solicitation or contract.

(b)    The chief procurement officers may develop contracting documents for their respective areas of responsibility. Contracting documents may be published as internal operating procedures. Contracting documents may be accompanied by usage instructions.

(c)    The board may adopt formally a contracting document, as developed by the appropriate chief procurement officer, for mandatory use by all governmental bodies only after notice of the proposed adoption has been published in the State Register and the board has provided the public at least sixty days to make written comments. If a contracting document is adopted by the board, the contracting document must be published in the State Register, accompanied by usage instructions, and used by all governmental bodies in accordance with its usage instructions. The chief procurement officers are not required to submit for board approval contracting documents used in connection with either solicitations issued or contracts awarded by the board or its offices.

(d)    Notwithstanding item (c) above, the board may promulgate contracting documents as regulations."

SECTION    35.    Section 11-35-2030 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-2030.    (1)    Specified Period. Unless otherwise provided by law, a contract for supplies, or services, or information technology shall must not be entered into for any a period of more than one year unless approved in a manner prescribed by regulation of the board;. provided, that The term of the contract and conditions of renewal or extension, if any, are must be included in the solicitation and funds are must be available for the first fiscal period at the time of contracting. Payment and performance obligations for succeeding fiscal periods shall must be subject to the availability and appropriation of funds therefore for them.

(2)    Determination Prior to Use. Prior to Before the utilization of a multi-term contract, it shall must be determined in writing by the appropriate governmental body that:

(a)    that estimated requirements cover the period of the contract and are reasonably firm and continuing; and

(b)    that such a contract will serve serves the best interests of the State by encouraging effective competition or otherwise promoting economies in state procurement.

(3)    Cancellation Due to Unavailability of Funds in Succeeding Fiscal Periods. When funds are not appropriated or otherwise made available to support continuation of performance in a subsequent fiscal period, the contract shall must be canceled.

(4)    The maximum time for any a multi-term contract is five years. Contract terms of up to seven years may be approved by the Director of the Office of General Services designated board officer. Contracts exceeding seven years must be approved by the Budget and Control board."

SECTION    36.    Section 11-35-2210 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-2210.    The Office of General Services shall be appropriate chief procurement officer or his designee is authorized, at reasonable times, to inspect the part of the plant or place of business of a contractor or any subcontractor which is related to the performance of any a contract awarded or to be awarded by the State."

SECTION    37.    Section 11-35-2410 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-2410.    (A)    The determinations required by the following sections and related regulations are final and conclusive, unless clearly erroneous, arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law: Section 11-35-1520(7) (Competitive Sealed Bidding: Correction or Withdrawal of Bids; Cancellation of Awards), Section 11-35-1520(11) (Competitive Sealed Bidding: Request for Qualifications), Section 11-35-1525(1) (Competitive Fixed Price Bidding: Conditions for Use), Section 11-35-1528(1) (Competitive Best Value Bidding: Conditions for Use), Section 11-35-1528(8) (Competitive Best Value Bidding: Award), Section 11-35-1529(1) (Competitive On-line Bidding: Conditions for Use), Section 11-35-1530(1) (Competitive Sealed Proposals, Conditions for Use), Section 11-35-1530(4) (Competitive Sealed Proposals: Request for Qualifications), Section 11-35-1530(8) (Competitive Sealed Proposals: Negotiations), Section 11-35-1530(9)(7) (Competitive Sealed Proposals, Selection and Ranking of Prospective Offerors), Section 11-35-1530(10)(9) (Competitive Sealed Proposals Award), Section 11-35-1540 (Negotiations After Unsuccessful Competitive Sealed Bidding), Section 11-35-1560 (Sole Source Procurement), Section 11-35-1570 (Emergency Procurement), Section 11-35-1710 (Cancellation of Invitation for Bids or Requests for Proposals), Section 11-35-1810(2) (Responsibility of Bidders and Offerors, Determination of Nonresponsibility), Section 11-35-1825 (Prequalification of Construction Bidders), Section 11-35-1830(3) (Cost or Pricing Data, Cost or Pricing Data Not Required), Section 11-35-2010 (Types and Forms of Contracts), Section 11-35-2020 (Approval of Accounting System), Section 11-35-2030(2) (Multi-Term Contracts, Determination Prior to Use), Section 11-35-3020(2)(d) (Construction Procurement Procedures: Negotiations after Unsuccessful Competitive Sealed Bidding), Section 11-35-3220(5) (Procurement Procedure, Selection and Ranking of the Five Most Qualified), and Section 11-35-4210(7) (Stay of Procurement During Protests, Decision to Proceed), and Section 11-35-4810 (Cooperative Use of Supplies, Services, or Information Technology) shall be final and conclusive unless they are clearly erroneous, arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law.

(B)    The chief procurement officers or their designees shall review samples of such the determinations periodically, and issue reports and recommendations on the appropriateness of the determinations made."

SECTION    38.    Section 11-35-2440 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-2440.    (1)(a)    Contents of Records. Any A governmental body as defined in Section 11-35-310(18) shall submit quarterly a record listing all contracts made under pursuant to Section 11-35-1560 (Sole Source Procurement) or Section 11-35-1570 (Emergency Procurements) to the chief procurement officers. The record shall must contain:

(a)(i)    each contractor's name;

(b)(ii)    the amount and type of each contract;

(c)(iii)    a listing of supplies, services, information technology, or construction procured under each contract.

(b)    The chief procurement officers shall maintain these records for five years.

(2)    Publication of Records. A copy of the record shall must be submitted to the board on an annual basis and shall must be available for public inspection."

SECTION    39.    Section 11-35-2710 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-2710.    The board shall promulgate regulations governing the preparation, maintenance, and content of specifications for supplies, services, information technology, and construction required by the State."

SECTION    40.    Section 11-35-2720 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-2720.    The chief procurement officers shall may prepare or review, issue, revise, and maintain the specifications for supplies, services, information technology, and construction required by the State, except for supplies, services, information technology, and construction items procured by the governmental bodies pursuant to Sections 11-35-1550, 11-35-1570, and 11-35-3230, the specification for which shall must be prepared and maintained by the using agencies in accordance with the provisions of this article and regulations promulgated hereunder under it and monitored periodically by the chief procurement officers."

SECTION    41.    Section 11-35-3020 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3020.    (1)    Source Selection. All state construction contracts shall must be awarded by competitive sealed bidding pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 11-35-1520, subject to the exceptions enumerated in subsection (2) of this section and except as provided in Sections 11-35-1550, 11-35-1560, and 11-35-1570. Competitive sealed proposals as provided in Section 11-35-1530 and multi-step sealed bidding as provided in Section 11-35-1520(11) shall must not be used, except in such cases and in accordance with criteria as may be authorized and prescribed by regulation of the board.

(2)    Exceptions in Competitive Sealed Bidding Procedures. The process of competitive sealed bidding as required by subsection (1) of this section shall must be performed in accordance with the procedures outlined in Article 5 of this code subject to the following exceptions:

(a)    Invitation for Bids. In lieu Instead of Section 11-35-1520(2), Section 11-35-1520(3), and Section 11-35-1520(4), invitations for bids for each state construction project subject to subsection (1) of this section shall must be made in the following manner. Each using agency shall must be responsible for developing a formal invitation for bids for each state construction project subject to subsection (1) of this section. The invitation shall must include, but not be limited to, all contractual terms and conditions applicable to the procurement. A copy of each invitation for bids shall must be filed with the State Engineer's Office and shall must be advertised formally advertised in an official state government publication. The manner in which this official state government publication shall must be published, the content of the publication itself, the frequency of the publication, the method of subscription to the publication, and the manner by which the publication will be is distributed shall must be established by regulation of the board.

(b)    Bid Acceptance. In lieu Instead of Section 11-35-1520(7)(6), the following provision applies. Bids must be accepted unconditionally without alteration or correction, except as otherwise authorized in this code. The using agency's invitation for bids shall must set forth all requirements of the bid including, but not limited to:

(i)        The using agency, in consultation with the architect-engineer assigned to the project, shall identify by specialty in the invitation for bids all subcontractors, as defined by applicable documents of the American Institute of Architects, who are expected to perform work for the prime contractor to or about the construction when those subcontractors' contracts are each expected to exceed three percent of the prime contractor's total base bid. In addition, the using agency, in consultation with the architect-engineer assigned to the project, may identify by specialty in the invitation for bids any subcontractors who are expected to perform work which is vital to the project. The determination of which subcontractors are included in the list provided in the invitation for bids is not protestable under pursuant to Section 11-35-4210 or any other another provision of this code. Any A bidder in response to an invitation for bids shall set forth in his bid the name of only those subcontractors that will to perform the work as identified in the invitation for bids. If the bidder determines to use his own employees to perform any a portion of the work for which he would otherwise be required to list a subcontractor and if the bidder is qualified to perform such that work under the terms of the invitation for bids, the bidder shall list himself in the appropriate place in his bid and not subcontract any of that work except with the approval of the using agency for good cause shown.

(ii)    Failure to complete the list provided in the invitation for bids renders the bidder's bid unresponsive.

(iii)    No A prime contractor whose bid is accepted shall may not substitute any a person as subcontractor in place of the subcontractor listed in the original bid, except for one or more of the following reasons:

(a)    upon a showing satisfactory to the using agency by the contractor that a subcontractor who was listed is not financially responsible;

(b)    upon a showing satisfactory to the using agency by the contractor that the scope of work bid by a listed subcontractor did not include a portion of the work required in the plans and specifications, and the exclusion is not clearly set forth in the listed subcontractor's original bid;

(c)    upon a showing satisfactory to the using agency made by the contractor within four working days of the bid opening that the subcontractor was listed as a result of an inadvertent clerical error;

(d)    upon a showing satisfactory to the using agency by the contractor that the listed subcontractor failed or refused to submit a performance and payment bond when requested by the prime contractor after the subcontractor had represented to the prime contractor that he could obtain a performance and payment bond;

(e)    upon a showing satisfactory to the using agency by the contractor that the listed subcontractor is required to be licensed and does not have the license by the time it is required by law;

(f)    when the listed subcontractor fails or refuses to perform his subcontract;

(g)    when the work of the listed subcontractor is found by the using agency to be substantially unsatisfactory;

(h)    upon mutual agreement of the contractor and subcontractor;

(i)        with the consent of the using agency for good cause shown.

(iv)    The request for substitution must be made to the using agency in writing. This written request does not give rise to any a private right of action against the prime contractor in the absence of actual malice.

(iv)(v)    Where substitution is allowed, the prime contractor, before obtaining prices from any other another subcontractor, must shall attempt in good faith to negotiate a subcontract with at least one subcontractor whose bid was received prior to before the submission of the prime contractor's bid. Nothing in this This section affects does not affect a contractor's ability to request withdrawal of a bid in accordance with the provisions of this code and the regulations promulgated under pursuant to it.

(v)(vi)    The using agency shall send all responsive bidders a copy of the bid tabulation within ten working days following the bid opening.

(c)    In lieu Instead of Section 11-35-1520(10) the following provisions apply. Unless there is a compelling reason to reject bids as prescribed by regulation of the board, notice of an intended award of a contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder whose bid meets the requirements set forth in the invitation for bids shall must be given by posting such the notice at a location which has been that is specified in the invitation for bids. The invitation for bids and the posted notice must contain a statement of the bidder's right to protest under pursuant to Section 11-35-4210(1) and the date and location of posting must be announced at bid opening. In addition to posting notice as provided above, the using agency shall promptly shall send all responsive bidders a copy of the notice of intended award and of the bid tabulation. Such The mailed notice must indicate the posting date and must contain a statement of the bidder's right to protest under pursuant to Section 11-35-4210(1).

Sixteen days After ten days' notice is given, the using agency may enter into a contract with the bidder named in the notice in accordance with the provisions of this code and of the bid solicited. A determination of responsibility must be made before award in accordance with Section 11-35-1810. The procurement officer must comply with Section 11-35-1810.

If, at bid opening, only one bid is received and determined to be responsive and responsible and within the agency's construction budget, award may be made without the sixteen-day ten-day waiting period.

(d)    Negotiations after Unsuccessful Competitive Sealed Bidding. In lieu Instead of Section 11-35-1540, the following provisions apply:

(1)    When bids received pursuant to an invitation for bids exceed available funds, and it is determined in writing by the agency that circumstances will do not permit the delay required to resolicit competitive sealed bids, and the base bid, less any deductive alternates, does not exceed available funds by an amount greater than ten percent of the construction budget established for that portion of the work, a contract may be negotiated pursuant to this section with the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, provided that this base bid, less any deductive alternates, does not exceed available funds by an amount greater than five percent of the construction budget established for that portion of the work. The using agency may change the scope of the work to reduce the cost to be within the established construction budget but shall may not reduce the cost below the established construction budget more than ten percent without a written request by the agency and the written approval of the chief procurement officer based on the best interest of the State.

(2)    When the lowest base bid received pursuant to an invitation for bids exceeds approved available funds and the using agency is able to identify additional funds for the project, as certified by the appropriate fiscal officers, in the amount of the difference between the lowest base bid and the approved available funds for the project, the using agency shall submit its request to use such additional funds to the board and the Joint Bond Review Committee in accordance with Sections 2-47-40 and 2-47-50. Sections 3A and 3B of Act 761 of 1976 which were added pursuant to Sections 2-47-40 and 2-47-50."

SECTION    42.    Section 11-35-3030 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 97 of 2005, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3030.    (1)    Bid Security. (a) Requirement for Bid Security. Bid security is required for all competitive sealed bidding for construction contracts in excess of one hundred fifty thousand dollars and such other contracts as may be prescribed by the State Engineer's Office. Bid security is a bond provided by a surety company meeting the criteria established by the regulations of the board or otherwise supplied in a form which that may be established by regulation of the board.

(b)    Amount of Bid Security. Bid security shall must be in an amount equal to at least five percent of the amount of the bid at a minimum.

(c)    Rejection of Bids for Noncompliance with Bid Security Requirements. When the invitation for bids requires security, noncompliance requires that the bid be rejected except that a bidder who fails to provide bid security in the proper amount or a bid bond with the proper rating shall must be given one working day from bid opening to cure such the deficiencies. If the bidder cannot is unable to cure these deficiencies within one working day of bid opening, his bid shall must be rejected.

(d)    Withdrawal of Bids. After the bids are opened, they shall must be irrevocable for the period specified in the invitation for bids. If a bidder is permitted to withdraw its bid before bid opening pursuant to Section 11-35-1520(8) no action shall must not be had against the bidder or the bid security.

(2)    Contract Performance Payment Bonds. (a) When Required-Amounts. When a construction contract is awarded pursuant to Section 11-35-3020, the following bonds or security shall must be delivered to the using agency and shall become binding on the parties upon the execution of the contract:

(i)        a performance bond satisfactory to the State, executed by a surety company meeting the criteria established by the board in regulations, or otherwise secured in a manner satisfactory to the State, in an amount equal to one hundred percent of the price specified in the contract;

(ii)    a payment bond satisfactory to the State, executed by a surety company meeting the criteria established by the board in regulations, or otherwise secured in a manner satisfactory to the State, for the protection of all persons supplying labor and material to the contractor or its subcontractors for the performance of the work provided for in the contract. The bond shall must be in an amount equal to one hundred percent of the contract price.

(iii)    in the case of a construction contract valued at one hundred fifty thousand dollars or less, the using agency may waive the requirements of (i) and (ii) above, provided that the using agency has protected the State.

(b)    Authority to Require Additional Bonds. Nothing in subsection Subsection (2) of this section shall be construed to does not limit the authority of the board to require a performance bond or other security in addition to these bonds, or in circumstances other than specified in item (a) of such that subsection in accordance with regulations promulgated by the board.

(c)    Suits on Payment Bonds--Right to Institute. Every person who has furnished labor, material, or rental equipment to a bonded contractor or his subcontractors for the work specified in the contract, and who has not been paid in full therefor for it before the expiration of a period of ninety days after the day on which the last of the labor was done or performed by such the person or material or rental equipment was furnished or supplied by such the person for which such the claim is made, shall have has the right to sue on the payment bond for the amount, or the balance thereof of it, unpaid at the time of institution of such the suit and to prosecute such the action for the sum or sums justly due such the person. A remote claimant shall have has a right of action on the payment bond only upon giving written notice to the contractor within ninety days from the date on which such the person did or performed the last of the labor or furnished or supplied the last of the material or rental equipment upon which such the claim is made, stating with substantial accuracy the amount claimed as unpaid and the name of the party to whom the material or rental equipment was furnished or supplied or for whom the labor was done or performed. Such The written notice to the bonded contractor shall must be served personally served or served by mailing the same notice by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, in an envelope addressed to the bonded contractor at any place the bonded contractor maintains a permanent office for the conduct of its business, or at the current address as shown on the records of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. However, in no event shall the The aggregate amount of any a claim against such the payment bond by a remote claimant may not exceed the amount due by the bonded contractor to the person to whom the remote claimant has supplied labor, materials, rental equipment, or services, unless the remote claimant has provided notice of furnishing labor, materials, or rental equipment to the bonded contractor. Such The written notice to the bonded contractor shall must be served personally served or sent by fax or sent by electronic mail or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the bonded contractor at any place the bonded contractor maintains a permanent office for the conduct of its business, or at the current address as shown on the records of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. After receiving the notice of furnishing labor, materials, or rental equipment, no payment by the bonded contractor shall may not lessen the amount recoverable by the remote claimant. However, in no event shall the The aggregate amount of claims on the payment bond may not exceed the penal sum of the bond.

No A suit under this section shall must not be commenced after the expiration of one year after the last date of furnishing or providing labor, services, materials, or rental equipment.

For purposes of this section, 'bonded contractor' means the contractor or subcontractor furnishing the payment bond, and 'remote claimant' means a person having a direct contractual relationship with a subcontractor of a bonded contractor, but no contractual relationship expressed or implied contractual relationship with the bonded contractor.

(d)    Suits on Payment Bonds--Where and When Brought. Every suit instituted upon a payment bond shall must be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction for the county or circuit in which the construction contract was to be performed, but no such; except that a suit shall must not be commenced after the expiration of one year after the day on which the last of the labor was performed or material was supplied by the person bringing suit. The obligee named in the bond need not be joined as a party in any such the suit.

(3)    Bonds Forms and Copies. (a) Bond Forms. The board shall promulgate by regulation the form of the bonds required by this section.

(b) Certified Copies of Bonds. Any A person may request and obtain from the using agency a certified copy of a bond upon payment of the cost of reproduction of the bond and postage, if any. A certified copy of a bond shall be is prima facie evidence of the contents, execution, and delivery of the original.

(4)    (4)    Retention.    (a)    Maximum amount to be withheld. In any a contract or subcontract for construction which contract or subcontract provides for progress payments in installments based upon an estimated percentage of completion, with a percentage of the contract's proceeds to be retained by the State or general contractor pending completion of the contract or subcontract, the retained amount of each progress payment or installment must be no more than three and one-half percent.

(b)    Release of Retained Funds. When the work to be performed on a state construction project or pursuant to a state construction contract is to be performed by multiple prime contractors or by a prime contractor and multiple subcontractors, the work contracted to be done by each individual contractor or subcontractor will be is considered a separate division of the contract for the purpose of retention. As each such division of the contract is certified as having been completed, that portion of the retained funds which is allocable to the completed division of the contract shall must be released forthwith to the prime contractor, who shall, within ten days of its receipt, shall release to the subcontractor responsible for the completed work the full amount of any retention previously withheld from him by the prime contractor.

(5)    Bonds for Bid Security and Contract Performance. The requirement of a bond for bid security on a construction contract, pursuant to subsection (1), and a construction contract performance bond, pursuant to subsection (2), may not include a requirement that the surety bond be furnished by a particular surety company or through a particular agent or broker."

SECTION    43.    Section 11-35-3040 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3040.    (1)    Contract Clauses. State construction contracts and subcontracts promulgated by regulation pursuant to Section 11-35-2010(2) may include clauses providing for adjustments in prices, time of performance, and other appropriate contract provisions including, but not limited to:

(a)    the unilateral right of a governmental body to order in writing:

(i)        all changes in the work within the scope of the contract, and

(ii)    all changes in the time of performance of the contract that which do not alter the scope of the contract work;

(b)    variations occurring between estimated quantities of work in the contract and actual quantities;

(c)    suspension of work ordered by the governmental body;

(d)    site conditions differing from those indicated in the contract or ordinarily encountered, except that differing site condition clauses promulgated by the board need not be included in a contract:

(i)        when the contract is negotiated; or

(ii)    when the parties have otherwise agreed with respect to the risk of differing site conditions.

(2)    Price Adjustments.    (a)    Adjustments in price pursuant to clauses adopted or promulgated under subsection (1) of this section shall pursuant to Section 11-35-2010 must be computed and documented with a written determination. The price adjustment agreed upon shall must approximate the actual cost to the contractor and all costs incurred by the contractor shall must be justifiably compared with prevailing industry standards, including reasonable profit. Costs shall must be properly itemized and supported by substantiating data sufficient to permit evaluation before commencement of the pertinent performance or as soon thereafter after that as practicable, and shall must be arrived at through whichever one of the following ways is the most valid approximation of the actual cost to the contractor:

(i)        by unit prices specified in the contract or subsequently agreed upon;

(ii)    by the costs attributable to the events or situations under such those clauses with adjustment of profits or fee, all as specified in the contract or subsequently agreed upon;

(iii)    by agreement on a fixed price adjustment;

(iv)    in such other another manner as the contracting parties may mutually agree; or

(v)    in the absence of agreement by the parties, through unilateral determination by the governmental body of the costs attributable to the events or situations under such those clauses, with adjustment of profit or fee, all as computed by the governmental body in accordance with applicable sections of the regulations issued under pursuant to this chapter and subject to the provisions of Article 17 of this chapter.

(b)    A contractor shall be is required to submit cost or pricing data if any an adjustment in contract price is subject to the provisions of Section 11-35-1830.

(3)    Additional Contract Clauses. The construction contracts and subcontracts promulgated pursuant to Section 11-35-2010(2) may include clauses providing for appropriate remedies which that cover as a minimum:

(a)    specified excuses for delay or nonperformance;

(b)    termination of the contract for default;

(c)    termination of the contract in whole or in part for the convenience of the governmental body.

(4)    Modification of Required Clauses. The chief procurement officer may vary the clauses promulgated by the board under pursuant to subsection (1) and subsection (3) of this section for inclusion in any a particular construction contract; provided, that any if the variations are supported by a written determination that states the circumstances justifying such the variations; and provided, further, that, if notice of any such a material variation be is stated in the invitation for bids."

SECTION    44.    Section 11-35-3060 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3060.    Every contract modification, change order, or contract price adjustment under a construction contract with the State shall be is subject to the procedures outlined in Sections 3A and 3B of Act 761 of 1976 which were added pursuant to Sections 2-47-40 and 2-47-50."

SECTION    45.    Section 11-35-3220 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3220.    (1)    Agency Selection Committee.    Each using agency shall establish its own architect-engineer, construction management, and land surveying services selection committee, hereinafter referred to as the agency selection committee, which shall that must be composed of those individuals whom the agency head determines to be qualified to make an informed decision as to the most competent and qualified firm for the proposed project. The head of the using agency or his qualified responsible designee shall sit as a permanent member of the agency selection committee for the purpose of coordinating and accounting for the committee's work. To assist an agency selection committee in the selection of firms to be employed for significant or highly technical projects and to facilitate prompt selections, the agency selection committee may invite the State Engineer or his designee to sit as a nonvoting member of the committee.

(2)(a)    Advertisement of Project Description. The agency selection committee shall be is responsible for:

(a)( i)developing a description of the proposed project,;

(b)(ii)    enumerating all required professional services for that project,; and

(c)(iii)    preparing a formal invitation to firms for submission of information.

(b)    The invitation shall must include, but not be limited to, the project title, the general scope of work, a description of all professional services required for that project, the submission deadline, and how interested firms may apply for consideration. The agency selection committee shall file a copy of the project description and the invitation with the State Engineer's Office. The invitation shall must be advertised formally advertised in an official state government publication. The manner in which this official state government publication shall must be published, the content of the publication itself, the frequency of the publication, the method for subscription to the publication, and the manner by which the publication will be is distributed shall must be established by regulation of the board.

(3)    Response to Invitation. The date for submission of information from interested persons or firms in response to an invitation shall must not be not less than fifteen days after publication of the invitation. Interested architect-engineer, construction management, and land surveying persons or firms shall be required to respond to the invitation with the submission of a current and accurate Federal Standard Form 254, Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire, and Federal Standard Form 255, Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire for Specific Project, or their successor forms or such similar information as the board may prescribe by regulation, and any other information which that the particular invitation may require.

(4)    Interviews with Interested Firms. Following receipt of information from all interested persons and firms, the agency selection committee shall hold interviews with at least five three persons or firms who have responded respond to the committee's advertisement and who are deemed considered most qualified on the basis of information available prior to before the interviews. A list of firms selected for interview shall must be sent to all firms that submitted information in response to the advertisement, prior to before the date selected for the interviews. If less than five three persons or firms have responded respond to the advertisement, the committee shall hold interviews with those that did respond. The agency selection committee's determination as to which will are to be interviewed shall must be in writing and shall be based upon its review and evaluation of all submitted materials. The written report of the committee shall must specifically list specifically the names of all persons and firms that responded to the advertisement and enumerate the reasons of the committee for selecting those to be interviewed. The purpose of the interviews shall be is to provide such the further information as that may be required by the agency selection committee to fully acquaint itself with the relative qualifications of the several interested firms.

(5)    Selection and Ranking of the Five Three Most Qualified.

(a)    The agency selection committee shall evaluate each of the persons or firms interviewed in view of their:

(a)(i)    past performance;

(b)(ii)    the ability of professional personnel;

(c)(iii)    demonstrated ability to meet time and budget requirements;

(d)(iv)    location and knowledge of the locality of the project if the application of this criterion leaves an appropriate number of qualified firms, given the nature and size of the project;

(e)(v)    recent, current, and projected workloads of the firms;

(f)(vi)    creativity and insight related to the project; and

(g)(vii)    related experience on similar projects.;

(viii)    volume of work awarded by the using agency to the person or firm during the previous five years, with the objective of effectuating an equitable distribution of contracts by the State among qualified firms including Minority Business Enterprises certified by the South Carolina Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance and firms that have not had previous state work; and

(ix)    any other special qualification required pursuant to the solicitation of the using agency.

(b)    Based upon these evaluations, the agency selection committee shall select the five three persons or firms which that, in its judgment, are the best qualified, ranking the five three in priority order. The agency selection committee's report ranking the five three chosen persons or firms shall must be in writing and shall include data substantiating its determinations.

(6)    Notice of Selection and Ranking. When it is determined by the agency that the ranking report is final, written notification of the election immediately shall highest ranked person or firm must be sent immediately to all firms interviewed.

(7)    Negotiation of Contract. The governing body of the using agency or its designee shall negotiate a contract for services with the most qualified person or firm at a compensation which that is fair and reasonable to the State. Should If the governing body of the using agency or its designee be is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with this person or firm, negotiations shall must be terminated formally terminated. Negotiations shall must commence in the same manner with the second and then the third, fourth and fifth most qualified until a satisfactory contract has been is negotiated. If no an agreement is not reached with one of the five three, additional persons or firms in order of their competence and qualifications shall must be selected after consultation with the agency selection committee, and negotiations shall must be continued in the same manner until agreement is reached.

(8)    State Engineer's Office Review. The head of the using agency shall submit the following documents to the State Engineer's Office for its review:

(a)    the written report of the agency selection committee, listing the persons or firms that responded to the invitation to submit information and enumerating the reasons of the committee for selecting the particular ones to be interviewed;

(b)    the written ranking report of the agency selection committee and all data substantiating the determinations made in that report; and

(c)    the tentative contract between the using agency and the selected person or firm.

(9)    Approval or Disagreement by State Engineer's Office. The State Engineer's Office shall have has ten days to review the data submitted by the agency selection committee, to determine the volume of work previously awarded to the firm by the State, with the object of effecting an equitable distribution of contracts among qualified firms, and to determine its position with respect to the particular person or firm recommended for approval by the agency. If the State Engineer's Office disagrees with the proposal, it may contest the proposal by submitting the matter to the board for decision. In the event of approval, the State Engineer's Office shall notify immediately notify in writing the using agency and the person or firm selected of the award and thereby authorize the using agency to execute a contract with the selected person or firm. In the event of disagreement, the State Engineer's Office immediately shall notify immediately notify the using agency in writing of its intention to contest the ranking and the reasons therefore for it. All contract negotiations by the governing body shall must be suspended pending a decision by the board concerning a contested ranking. The board shall hear any such contests at its next regularly scheduled meeting subsequent to after notification of the using agency. If the board rules in support of the State Engineer's Office position, the using agency shall submit the name of another person or firm to the State Engineer's Office for consideration, selected in accordance with the procedures prescribed herein in this section. If the board rules in support of the using agency, the using agency shall must be notified in writing and thereby authorized to execute a contract with the selected person or firm."

SECTION    46.    Section 11-35-3230 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3230.    (1)    Procurement Procedures for Certain Contracts. All A governmental bodies body securing architect-engineer or land surveying service which is estimated not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars may employ the architects, engineers, or land surveyors award contracts by direct negotiation and selection, taking into account:

(a)    the nature of the project,;

(b)    the proximity of the architect-engineer or land surveying services to the project,;

(c)    the capability of the architect, engineer, or land surveyor to produce the required service within a reasonable time,;

(d)    past performance,; and

(e)    ability to meet project budget requirements.

(2)    Maximum Fees Payable to One Person or Firm. Fees paid during the twenty-four month period immediately preceding negotiation of the contract by any a single governmental body for professional services performed by any one an architectural-engineering or land surveying firm pursuant to Section 11-35-3230(1)    shall may not exceed seventy-five thousand dollars. All persons Persons or firms seeking to render professional services pursuant to this section shall furnish the governmental body with whom the firm is negotiating a list of professional services, including fees paid therefore for them, performed for the governmental body during the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the negotiations are occurring and during the fiscal year in which the negotiations are occurring.

(3)    Approval Submission of Contracts by to State Engineer's Office. All Copies of contracts, including the negotiated scope of services and fees, awarded pursuant to this section shall must be submitted for approval to the State Engineer's Office in accordance with regulations to be established by the board prior to the awarding and execution of the contracts for information.

(4)    Splitting of Larger Projects Prohibited. No using A agency may not break a project into small projects for the purpose of circumventing the provisions of Section 11-35-3220 and this section."

SECTION    47.    Section 11-35-3240 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3240.    As relates to this code and the ensuing regulations, a 'Manual for Planning and Execution of State Permanent Improvements' shall may be published by the board or its designee for use by governmental bodies and included, by reference, in the regulations of the board. The manual may be revised as the board deems considers necessary, except that proposed changes are not effective until the board has provided the public at least sixty days to make written comments after notice of the proposed changes is published in South Carolina Business Opportunities."

SECTION    48.    Section 11-35-3245 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3245.    (a)    No An architect or engineer performing design work, or construction manager performing construction management services as described in Section 11-35-2910(3), pursuant to under a contract awarded under any provision of this chapter pursuant to the provisions of Section 11-35-3220 or Section 11-35-3230, may not perform other work, by later amendment or separate contract award, on that project as a contractor or subcontractor either directly or through a business in which he or his architectural engineering or construction management firm has greater than a five percent interest.

(b)    For purposes of this section, safety compliance and other incidental construction support activities performed by the construction manager are not considered work performed as a contractor or subcontractor. Should If the construction manager perform or be performs or is responsible for safety compliance and other incidental construction support activities, and these support activities are in noncompliance with the provisions of Section 41-15-210, then the construction management firm is subject to all applicable fines and penalties."

SECTION    49.    Section 11-35-3410(1) and (3) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"(1)    Contract Clauses.    The board may promulgate regulations requiring the inclusion in state supplies, and services, and information technology contracts of clauses providing for adjustments in prices, time of performance, or other contract provisions, as appropriate, and covering the following subjects:

(a)    the unilateral right of a governmental body to order in writing changes in the work within the scope of the contract and temporary stopping of the work or delaying performance; and

(b)    variations occurring between estimated quantities of work in a contract and actual quantities.

(3)    Additional Contract Clauses. The board shall be authorized to promulgate regulations requiring the inclusion in state supplies, and services, and information technology contracts of clauses providing for appropriate remedies and covering the following subjects:

(a)    specified excuses for delay or nonperformance;

(b)    termination of the contract for default; and

(c)    termination of the contract in whole or in part for the convenience of the governmental body."

SECTION    50.    Section 11-35-3510 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3510.    The board may promulgate regulations setting forth cost principles which shall that must be used to determine the allowability of incurred costs for the purpose of reimbursing costs under provisions in supplies, and services, and information technology contracts which that provide for the reimbursement of costs."

SECTION    51.    Section 11-35-3820 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 or 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3820.    Except as provided in Section 11-35-1580 and Section 11-35-3830 and the regulations pursuant thereto to them, the sale of all state-owned supplies, property, or personal property not in actual public use shall must be conducted and directed by the Office of General Services designated board office. Such The sales shall must be held at such places and in such a manner as in the judgment of the Office of General Services shall be designated board office is most advantageous to the State. Unless otherwise determined, sales shall must be by either public auction or competitive sealed bid to the highest bidder. Each governmental body shall inventory and report to the Office of General Services designated board office all surplus personal property not in actual public use held by that agency governmental body for sale. The Office of General Services designated board office shall deposit the proceeds from such the sales, less expense of the sales, in the state general fund or as otherwise directed by regulation. This policy and procedure shall apply applies to all governmental bodies unless exempt by law."

SECTION    52.    Section 11-35-3840 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-3840.    The Office of General Services of the State Budget and Control Board may license for public sale publications and, including South Carolina Business Opportunities, materials pertaining to training programs, and information technology products which that are developed during the normal course of the Office's board's activities. Such The items shall must be licensed at such reasonable costs as are established in accordance with the cost of the items. All proceeds from the sale of the publications and materials shall must be placed in a revenue account and expended for the cost of providing such the services."

SECTION    53.    Section 11-35-4210 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-4210.    (1)    Right to Protest; Exclusive Remedy.

(a)    Any A prospective bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor who is aggrieved in connection with the solicitation of a contract shall protest to the appropriate chief procurement officer in the manner stated in subsection (2)(a) below within fifteen days of the date of issuance of the Invitation For Bids or Requests for Proposals or other solicitation documents, whichever is applicable, or any amendment thereto to it, if the amendment is at issue. An Invitation for Bids or Request for Proposals or other solicitation document, not including an amendment to it, is considered to have been issued on the date required notice of the issuance is given in accordance with this code.

(b)    Any actual bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor who is aggrieved in connection with the intended award or award of a contract shall protest to the appropriate chief procurement officer in the manner stated in subsection (2)(b) below within fifteen ten days of the date award or notification of intent to award, whichever is earlier, is posted in accordance with this code; except that a matter that could have been raised pursuant to (a) as a protest of the solicitation may not be raised as a protest of the award or intended award of a contract.

(c)    The rights and remedies granted in this article to a disappointed bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor bidders, offerors, contractors, or subcontractors, either actual or prospective, are to the exclusion of all other rights and remedies of such disappointed bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor the bidders, offerors, contractors, or subcontractors against the State at common law or otherwise for the loss or potential loss of an award of a contract under the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code.

(d)    The rights and remedies granted by subsection (1) and Section 11-35-4410(1)(b) are not available for contracts with an actual or potential value of up to fifty thousand dollars.

(2)    Protest Procedure.    (a)    A protest under pursuant to subsection (1)(a) above shall must be in writing, submitted to filed with the appropriate chief procurement officer, and shall set forth the grounds of the protest and the relief requested with enough particularity to give notice of the issues to be decided. The protest must be received by the appropriate chief procurement officer within the time provided in subsection (1).

(b)    A protest pursuant to subsection (1)(b) must be in writing and must be received by the appropriate chief procurement officer within the time limits established by subsection (1)(b). At any time after filing a protest, but no later than fifteen days after the date award or notification of intent to award, whichever is earlier, is posted in accordance with this code, a protestant may amend a protest that was first submitted within the time limits established by subsection (1)(b). A protest, including amendments, must set forth both the grounds of the protest and the relief requested with enough particularity to give notice of the issues to be decided.

(3)    Duty and Authority to Attempt to Settle Protests. Prior to Before commencement of an administrative review as provided in subsection (4), the appropriate chief procurement officer, the head of the purchasing agency, or their designees thereof shall may attempt to settle by mutual agreement a protest of an aggrieved bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor, actual or prospective, concerning the solicitation or award of the contract. The appropriate chief procurement officer, the head of the purchasing agency, or designees thereof shall have his designee has the authority to approve any settlement reached by mutual agreement.

(4)    Administrative Review and Decision. If in the opinion of the appropriate chief procurement officer, after reasonable attempt, a protest cannot be settled by mutual agreement, the appropriate chief procurement officer shall promptly conduct promptly an administrative review. The appropriate chief procurement officer or his designee shall commence the administrative review no later than fifteen business days after the deadline for receipt of a protest has expired and shall issue a decision in writing within ten days of completion of the review. The decision shall must state the reasons for the action taken.

(5)    Notice of Decision. A copy of the decision under subsection (4) of this section along with a statement of appeal rights under pursuant to Section 11-35-4210(6) shall must be mailed or otherwise furnished immediately to the protestant and any other party intervening. The appropriate chief procurement officer, or his designee, shall also shall post a copy of the decision at a date and place communicated to all parties participating in the administrative review, and such the posted decision shall must indicate the date of posting on its face and shall must be accompanied by a statement of the right to appeal provided in Section 11-35-4210(6).

(6)    Finality of Decision. A decision under pursuant to subsection (4) of this section shall be is final and conclusive, unless fraudulent, or unless any a person adversely affected by the decision requests a further administrative review by the Procurement Review Panel under pursuant to Section 11-35-4410(1) within ten days of posting of the decision in accordance with Section 11-35-4210 subsection (5). The request for review shall must be directed to the appropriate chief procurement officer, who shall forward the request to the panel, or to the Procurement Review Panel, and shall must be in writing, setting forth the reasons why the person disagrees for disagreement with the decision of the appropriate chief procurement officer. The person also may also request a hearing before the Procurement Review Panel. The appropriate chief procurement officer and an affected governmental body shall have the opportunity to participate fully in a later review or appeal, administrative or judicial.

(7)    Automatic Stay of Procurement During Protests. In the event of a timely protest under pursuant to subsection (1) above, the State shall not proceed further with the solicitation or award of the contract until ten days after a decision is rendered posted by the appropriate chief procurement officer, or, in the event of timely appeal to the Procurement Review Panel, until a decision is rendered by the panel; provided, however, except that solicitation or award of a protested contract will is not be stayed if the appropriate chief procurement officer, after consultation with the head of the using agency, makes a written determination that the solicitation or award of the contract without further delay is necessary to protect the best interests of the State.

(8)    Notice of Chief Procurement Officer Address. Notice of the address of the appropriate chief procurement officer must be included in every notice of an intended award and in every invitation for bids, request for proposals, or other type solicitation."

SECTION    54.    Section 11-35-4220 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-4220.        (1)    Authority. After reasonable notice to the person or firm involved, and a reasonable opportunity for such that person or firm to be heard, the appropriate chief procurement officer shall have has the authority to debar a person for cause from consideration for award of contracts or subcontracts provided that if doing so is in the best interest of the State and there is probable cause for debarment. The appropriate chief procurement officer also may also suspend a person or firm from consideration for award of contracts or subcontracts during an investigation where there is probable cause for debarment. The period of debarment or suspension shall be is as prescribed by the appropriate chief procurement officer.

(2)    Causes for Debarment or Suspension. The causes for debarment or suspension shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a)    conviction for commission of a criminal offense as an incident to obtaining or attempting to obtain a public or private contract or subcontract, or in the performance of such the contract or subcontract;

(b)    conviction under state or federal statutes of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property, or any other another offense indicating a lack of business integrity or professional honesty which currently, seriously, and directly affects responsibility as a state contractor;

(c)    conviction under state or federal antitrust laws arising out of the submission of bids or proposals;

(d)    violation of contract provisions, as set forth below, of a character which is regarded by the appropriate chief procurement officer to be so serious as to justify debarment action:

(i)    deliberate failure without good cause to perform in accordance with the specifications or within the time limit provided in the contract; or

(ii)    a recent record of failure to perform or of unsatisfactory performance in accordance with the terms of one or more contracts; provided except, that failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance caused by acts beyond the control of the contractor shall must not be considered to be a basis for debarment;

(e)    violation of an order of a chief procurement officer or the Procurement Review Panel; and

(f)    any other cause the appropriate chief procurement officer determines to be so serious and compelling as to affect responsibility as a state contractor or subcontractor, including debarment by another governmental entity for any cause listed herein in this subsection.

(3)    Decision. The appropriate chief procurement officer shall issue a written decision to debar or suspend within ten days of the completion of his administrative review of the matter. The decision shall must state the action taken, the specific reasons therefore for it, and the period of debarment or suspension, if any.

(4)    Notice of Decision. A copy of the decision under pursuant to subsection (3) of this section and a statement of appeal rights under pursuant to Section 11-35-4220(5) shall must be mailed or otherwise furnished immediately to the debarred or suspended person and any other party intervening. The appropriate chief procurement officer also shall also post a copy of the decision at a time and place communicated to all parties participating in the administrative review and such the posted decision shall must indicate the date of posting on its face and shall be accompanied by a statement of the right to appeal provided in Section 11-35-4220(5).

(5)    Finality of Decision. A decision under pursuant to subsection (3) of this section shall be is final and conclusive, unless fraudulent, or unless the debarred or suspended person requests further administrative review by the Procurement Review Panel under pursuant to Section 11-35-4410(1), within ten days of the posting of the decision in accordance with Section 11-35-4220(4). The request for review shall must be directed to the appropriate chief procurement officer, who shall forward the request to the panel, or to the Procurement Review Panel, and shall must be in writing, setting forth the reasons why the person disagrees with the decision of the appropriate chief procurement officer. The person may also may request a hearing before the Procurement Review Panel. The appropriate chief procurement officer and any affected governmental body must have the opportunity to participate fully in any review or appeal, administrative or legal.

(6)    Debarment constitutes debarment of all divisions or other organizational elements of the contractor, unless the debarment decision is limited by its terms to specific divisions, organization elements, or commodities. The debarring official may extend the debarment decision to include any principals and affiliates of the contractor if they are specifically named and given written notice of the proposed debarment and an opportunity to respond. For purposes of this section, business concerns, organizations, or individuals are affiliates of each other if, directly or indirectly, either one controls or has the power to control the other, or a third party controls or has the power to control both. Indications of control include, but are not limited to, interlocking management or ownership, identity of interests among family members, shared facilities and equipment, common use of employees, or a business entity organized following the debarment, suspension, or proposed debarment of a contractor which has the same or similar management, ownership, or principal employees as the contractor that was debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment. For purposes of this section, the term 'principals' means officers, directors, owners, partners, and persons having primary management or supervisory responsibilities within a business entity including, but not limited to, a general manager, plant manager, head of a subsidiary, division, or business segment, and similar positions."

SECTION    55.    Section 11-35-4230 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-4230.    (1)    Applicability. This section applies to controversies between the State a governmental body and a contractor or subcontractor, when the subcontractor is the real party in interest, which arise under or by virtue of a contract between them including, but not limited to, controversies based upon breach of contract, mistake, misrepresentation, or other cause for contract modification or recision. The procedure set forth in this section shall constitute constitutes the exclusive means of resolving a controversy between the State a governmental body and a contractor or subcontractor, when the subcontractor is the real party in interest, concerning a contract solicited and awarded under pursuant to the provisions of the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code.

(2)    Request for Resolution; Time for Filing. Either the contracting state agency or the contractor or subcontractor, when the subcontractor is the real party in interest, may initiate resolution proceedings before the appropriate chief procurement officer by submitting a request for resolution to the appropriate chief procurement officer in writing setting forth the general specific nature of the controversy and the specific relief requested with enough particularity to give notice of the issues every issue to be decided. A request for resolution of contract controversy must be filed within one year of the date the contractor last performs work under the contract; provided, however, except that in the case of latent defects a request for resolution of a contract controversy must be filed within one year three years of the date the requesting party first knows or should know of the grounds giving rise to the request for resolution.

(3)    Duty and Authority to Attempt to Settle Contract Controversies. Prior to Before commencement of an administrative review as provided in subsection (4), the appropriate chief procurement officer or his designee shall attempt to settle by mutual agreement a contract controversy brought under pursuant to this section. The appropriate chief procurement officer shall have has the authority to approve any settlement reached by mutual agreement.

(4)    Administrative Review and Decision. If, in the opinion of the appropriate chief procurement officer, after reasonable attempt, a contract controversy cannot be settled by mutual agreement, the appropriate chief procurement officer or his designee shall promptly shall conduct an administrative review and shall issue a decision in writing within ten days of completion of the review. The decision shall must state the reasons for the action taken.

(5)    Notice of Decision. A copy of the decision under pursuant to subsection (4) of this section and a statement of appeal rights under Section 11-35-4230(6) shall must be mailed or otherwise furnished immediately to all parties participating in the administrative review proceedings. The appropriate chief procurement officer also shall also post a copy of the decision at a time and place communicated to all parties participating in the administrative review, and such the posted decision shall must indicate the date of posting on its face and shall must be accompanied by a statement of the right to appeal provided in Section 11-35-4230(6).

(6)    Finality of Decision. A decision under pursuant to subsection (4) of this section shall be is final and conclusive, unless fraudulent, or unless any a person adversely affected requests a further administrative review by the Procurement Review Panel under pursuant to Section 11-35-4410(1) within ten days of the posting of the decision in accordance with Section 11-35-4230(5). The request for review shall must be directed to the appropriate chief procurement officer, who shall forward the request to the panel, or to the Procurement Review Panel, and shall must be in writing setting forth the reasons why the person disagrees with the decision of the appropriate chief procurement officer. The person also may also request a hearing before the Procurement Review Panel. The appropriate chief procurement officer and any affected governmental body shall have the opportunity to participate fully in a later review or appeal, administrative or legal."

SECTION    56.    Section 11-35-4330 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-4330.    (1)    Signature on Protest Constitutes Certificate. The signature of an attorney or party on a request for review, protest, motion, or other document constitutes a certificate by the signer that the signer has read such the document, that to the best of the signer's his knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, it is well grounded in fact and is warranted by existing law or a good faith argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law, and that it is not interposed for any an improper purpose, such as to harass, limit competition, or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of the procurement or of the litigation.

(2)    Sanctions for Violations. If a request for review, protest, pleading, motion, or other document that is filed with the chief procurement officer or the Procurement Review Panel is signed in violation of this subsection on or after appeal to the Procurement Review Panel, the Procurement Review Panel, upon motion or upon it's own initiative, may impose upon the person who signed it, a represented party, or both, an appropriate sanction, which that may include an order to pay to the other party or parties the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing of the protest, pleading, motion, or other paper, including a reasonable attorney's fee.

(3)    Filing. A motion regarding a matter that is not otherwise before the panel may not be filed until after a final decision has been issued by the appropriate chief procurement officer. A motion for sanctions pursuant to this section must be filed with the panel no later than fifteen days after the later of either the filing of a request for review, protest, motion, or other document signed in violation of this section, or the issuance of an order that addresses the request for review, protest, motion, or other document that is the subject of the motion for sanctions."

SECTION    57.    Section 11-35-4410 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 178 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-4410.    (1)    Creation. There is hereby created the South Carolina Procurement Review Panel which shall be is charged with the responsibility to review and determine de novo:

(a)    requests for review of written determinations of the chief procurement officers under Sections 11-35-4210(6), 11-35-4220(5), and 11-35-4230(6); and

(b)    requests for review of other written determinations, decisions, policies, and procedures as arise from or concern the procurement of supplies, services, information technology, or construction procured in accordance with the provisions of this code and the ensuing regulations; provided except that any a matter which that could have been brought before the chief procurement officers in a timely and appropriate manner under pursuant to Sections 11-35-4210, 11-35-4220, or 11-35-4230, but was not, shall must not be the subject of review under this paragraph. Requests for review under this paragraph shall must be submitted to the Procurement Review Panel in writing, setting forth the grounds, within fifteen days of the date of such the written determinations, decisions, policies, and procedures.

(2)    Membership. The panel shall must be composed of:

(a)    [Deleted]

(b)    [Deleted]

(c)    [Deleted]

(d)    the chairman, or his designee, of the Procurement Policy Committee; [Deleted]

(e)    five members appointed by the Governor from the State at large who shall must be representative of the professions governed by this title including, but not limited to:

(i)    goods and services.;

(ii)    information technology procurements.;

(iii)    construction.;

(iv)    architects and engineers.;

(v)    construction management.; and

(vi)    land surveying services.;

(f)    two state employees appointed by the Governor.

(3)    Chairperson and Meetings. The panel shall elect a chairman from the members at large and shall meet as often as necessary to afford a swift resolution of the controversies submitted to it. Five Four members present and voting shall constitute a quorum. In the case of a tie vote, the decision of the chief procurement office is final. At-large members of the panel shall must be paid per diem, mileage, and subsistence as provided by law for members of boards, commissions, and committees. State employee members shall must be reimbursed for meals, lodging, and travel in accordance with current state allowances.

(4)    Jurisdiction. (a)    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-23-10, et seq. or any other provisions of law, the Administrative Procedures Act does not apply to administrative reviews conducted by either a chief procurement officer or the Procurement Review Panel. the The Procurement Review Panel shall be is vested with the authority to:

(a)(i)    establish its own rules and procedures for the conduct of its business and the holding of its hearings;

(b)(ii)    issue subpoenas;

(c)(iii)    interview any person it deems considers necessary; and

(d)(iv)    record all determinations.

(b)    A party aggrieved by a subpoena issued pursuant to this provision shall apply to the panel for relief.

(5)    Procedure. Within fifteen days of receiving a grievance filed under pursuant to Sections 11-35-4210(6), 11-35-4220(5), 11-35-4230(6), or 11-35-4410(1)(b), the chairman shall either convene the review panel to conduct an administrative review. The or schedule a hearing to facilitate its administrative review. Except for grievances filed pursuant to Section 11-35-4230(6), the review panel shall record its determination within thirty ten working days and shall communicate its decision to those involved in the determination. In matters designated by the review panel as complex, the review panel shall record its determination within thirty days. In the alternative, the chairman, within ten days, may appoint a hearing officer to conduct the administrative review and report his recommendations to the review panel for its determination. If a hearing officer is appointed, his report shall be submitted to the review panel within ten days after his appointment, and the review panel must still record its decision within thirty days after being convened for this purpose.

(6)    Finality.    The Notwithstanding another provision of law, including the Administrative Procedures Act, the decision of the Procurement Review Panel is final as to administrative review and may be appealed to the circuit court under the provisions of the South Carolina Administrative Procedures Act. The filing of an appeal does not automatically stay a decision of the panel."

SECTION    58.    Section 11-35-5220 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"(6)    Fee Waivers. Upon request by an MBE certified by the Small and Minority Business Assistance Office, user or subscription fees for services provided by the chief procurement officers may be waived for an MBE."

SECTION    59.    Section 11-35-5230(A)(5) and (B)(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 76 of 1995, is further amended to read:

"(5)    Insuring Ensuring that the price shall have has been determined to be fair and reasonable, and competitive both to the State and to the contractor and results in no loss to the State.

(2)    The tax credit is limited to a maximum of twenty-five fifty thousand dollars annually. A firm shall be is eligible to claim a tax credit for a period of five ten years from the date the first income tax credit is claimed."

SECTION    60.    Section 11-35-5240 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-5240.    (1)    In order to To emphasize the use of minority small businesses, each agency director shall develop a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Utilization Plan. The MBE Utilization Plan shall must include, but not be limited to:

(a)    the name of the governmental body;

(b)    a policy statement expressing a commitment by the governmental body to use MBE's MBEs in all aspects of procurement;

(c)    the name of the coordinator responsible for monitoring the MBE Utilization Plan;

(d)    goals that include a reasonable percentage expending with Minority Business Enterprises certified by the Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance an amount equal to ten percent of each governmental body's total procurements directed toward minority vendors dollar amount of funds expended;

(e)    solicitation of qualified certified minority vendors, a current list of which shall must be supplied by the Office of General Services Small and Minority Business Assistance, in each commodity category for which such the minority vendor is qualified. The current listing of qualified minority vendors shall must be made available by the Office of General Services Small and Minority Business Assistance on a timely basis;

(f)    procedures to be used when it is necessary to divide total project requirements into smaller tasks which will permit increased MBE participation;

(g)    procedures to be used when the governmental body subcontracts the scope of service to another governmental body; the responsible governmental body may set goals for the subcontractor in accordance with the MBE goal and the responsible governmental body may allow the subcontractor to present a MBE Utilization Plan detailing its procedure to obtain minority business enterprise participation.

(2)    MBE utilization plans shall must be submitted to the SMBAO for approval not no later than July thirtieth, annually. Upon petition by the governmental body, SMBAO may authorize an MBE utilization plan that establishes a goal of less than ten percent of the governmental body's total dollar amount of funds expended. Progress reports shall must be submitted to the SMBAO not no later than ten thirty days after the end of each fiscal quarter. and contain the following information:

(a)    number of minority firms solicited;

(b)    number of minority bids received;

(c)    total dollar amount of funds expended on contracts awarded to minority bids awarded firms certified pursuant to Section 11-35-5230; and

(d)    total dollar amount of funds expended.

(3)    For purposes of this section, and notwithstanding the Administrative Procedures Act, the executive director of the board shall establish a definition for the phrase 'total dollar amount of funds expended'."

SECTION    61.    Section 11-35-5260 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 153 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 11-35-5260.    Each governmental body The Small and Minority Business Assistance Office shall report annually in writing to the board Governor concerning the number and dollar value of contracts awarded for each governmental body to eligible minority businesses a firm certified as a minority firm pursuant to Section 11-35-5230 during the preceding fiscal year. These records shall must be maintained to evaluate the progress of this program."

SECTION    62.    The final two sentences of Section 11-35-5270 of the 1976 Code are amended to read:

"The Governor shall evaluate the role of this office within two years from the date of its creation and shall request recommendations of the State Reorganization Commission. The Governor may propose a more appropriate location of the office should the findings warrant change."

SECTION    63.    Section 12-6-3350(B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(B)    The credit is limited to a maximum of twenty-five fifty thousand dollars annually. A taxpayer is eligible to claim the credit for six ten taxable years beginning with the taxable year in which the credit is first claimed. After the above six ten taxable years, the taxpayer is no longer eligible for the credit regardless of whether or not the taxpayer claimed the credit in a year subsequent to the year in which the credit was first claimed."

SECTION    64.    Subarticle 11 of Article 1, Chapter 35, Title 11; Section 11-35-1270; and Subarticle 5 of Article 15, Chapter 35, Title 11 of the 1976 Code are repealed.

SECTION 65.    Section 11-35-1524 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 333 of 2002, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered subsection at the end to read:

"( )    Best Value Preference. A preference must be provided to vendors who show the most positive economic impact based on an economic model to be determined by the Board of Economic Advisors and approved by the State Budget and Control Board. The model may include, but is not limited to, consideration and analysis of economic and employment multiplier effects, net economic benefit to employment and the suitability, capacity, competency, and acceptability of the item or service to the specific functions and needs of the State, using State Budget and Control Board approved software that utilizes the following criteria for retaining the maximum dollars within this State including, but not limited to:

(1)    Products made in South Carolina. 'Made' means to assemble, fabricate, or process component parts into a finished end-product, the value of which assembly, fabrication, or processing is a significant portion of the value of the finished end-product.

(2)    Products manufactured in South Carolina. 'Manufactured' means to make or process raw materials into a finished end-product.

(3)    Products grown in South Carolina. 'Grown' means to produce, cultivate, raise, or harvest timber, agricultural produce, or livestock on the land, or to cultivate, raise, catch, or harvest products or food from the water, which results in an end-product that is locally derived from the product cultivated, raised, caught, or harvested.

(4)    Services provided by workers residing in South Carolina.

(5)    End-products from South Carolina. 'End-product' means the item sought by the governmental body of the State and described in the solicitation including all component parts and in final form and ready for the use intended by the governmental body.

(B)    Application. Competitive procurements made by governmental bodies must be made from vendors based on the impact studies and vendor-provided certified information in connection with those studies as determined pursuant to subsection (A).

(C)    Exceptions. This section does not apply to any solicitation, bid, offer, or procurement where the contract award is less than twenty-five thousand dollars.

(D)    Enforcement. A bidder must be suspended or debarred from doing business with the State in accordance with Section 11-35-4220 if the chief procurement officer determines that the certification made by the bidder with respect to the information provided in compliance with subsection (A) is not valid."

SECTION 66.    A.    Section 12-6-3360(M)(3) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 145 of 2005, is further amended by adding at the end a new undesignated paragraph:

"Notwithstanding another provision of law, 'new job' includes an apprenticeship created by a taxpayer when the taxpayer employs an apprentice as defined by the applicable state occupational or professional licensing board described in Title 40 or, if a state licensing board does not exist, as defined by The National Apprenticeship Act, 29 U.S.C. 50, and applicable regulations. The eligibility of the apprenticeship for the tax credit is not contingent on the amount of gross wages associated with it, except that the amount must be that amount required, if any, by the applicable state licensing board or the standards of apprenticeship as provided in 29 CFR 29.5. The apprenticeship also must meet the other standards established by the applicable state licensing board or as established in 29 CFR 29.5. The apprenticeship program must be certified to the department as eligible for the credit by the applicable state occupational or professional licensing board or the Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services, U.S. Department of Labor, or its designee."

B.    Notwithstanding the effective date provided in this act, the provisions of this SECTION take effect July 1, 2006.

SECTION    67.    A.        Article 9, Chapter 5, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Article 9

Shellfish

Section 50-5-900.    (A)    The department may grant permits to any state resident for the exclusive use of portions of the intertidal or subtidal state-bottoms or waters for commercial shellfish culture or mariculture not to exceed an aggregate of five hundred acres of bottoms or an aggregate of one hundred surface acres of waters to any entity. In exercising its discretion the department may consider applicants' previous performance and compliance with natural resources laws.

(B)    Each permit is valid for five years and may be renewed for additional terms.

(C)    For purposes of this article, 'state resident' means an individual who is a legal resident of South Carolina or an entity the majority stockholder, partner, or principal of which is a legal resident of South Carolina.

Section 50-5-905.    (A)    A person or entity state resident desiring to acquire a Shellfish Culture Permit or a Shellfish Mariculture Permit for any bottoms or waters must make written application to the department on a form provided by the department. A nonrefundable sum of twenty-five dollars must accompany the application for each permit. If the proposed area is available for shellfish culture or mariculture, the department shall determine:

(1)    the acreage of waters or shellfish bottoms; and

(2)    the acreage capable of producing shellfish.

(B)    No other Shellfish Culture Permit may be granted for the bottoms delineated within an existing Shellfish Culture Permit area. However, within the perimeter boundary of an existing Shellfish Culture Permit, the department may grant permits for mariculture for waters or bottoms not then under culture permit.

Section 50-5-910.    (A)    An applicant for Shellfish Culture Permits and Shellfish Mariculture Permits must:

(1)    satisfy the department that the applicant has sufficient shellfish culture experience and will directly manage and supervise the cultivation of the permit area applied for, or will employ a qualified individual as manager within three months following the date that the permit becomes effective;

(2)    own and employ or provide assurance that the applicant is capable of acquiring the necessary equipment and personnel to effectively harvest and manage the area in question; and

(3)    hold or be qualified to obtain all state and federal approvals required for use of the bottoms or waters for which application is made.

(B)    In cases where two or more individuals who are equally qualified apply for a permit for the same bottoms or waters, the granting of the permit may be determined by lottery. The order in which applications are received shall have no bearing on the granting of a permit.

(C)    Persons and entities State residents granted Shellfish Culture Permits and Shellfish Mariculture Permits must submit a sworn statement stating the permittee has a wholesale seafood dealer's license, a molluscan shellfish license, and a shellfish facility certified by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control or that all shellfish harvested for sale shall be handled through a licensed wholesale seafood dealer having a molluscan shellfish license and a Department of Health and Environmental Control approved facility.

Section 50-5-915.    (A)    In reviewing applications for Shellfish Culture Permits and Shellfish Mariculture Permits, the department must:

(1)    review applications for permits and consider each applicant's qualifications, and may conduct personal interviews;

(2)    consider contested permit applications, permit revisions, variances, or revocations; and

(3)    consider the allocation of shellfish bottoms and waters for public or private use.

(B)    Permits may be conditioned by the department to include requirements related to:

(1)    shellfish production and reporting;

(2)    mariculture structures and operations;

(3)    guarantee of public rights of access and nonconflicting uses of permitted areas;

(4)    planting variances;

(5)    bonding and escrow;

(6)    the department being held harmless from any claims or damages resulting from the permitted operations;

(7)    correction of any environmental degradation which may result from the permitted activity; and

(8)    revocation for failure to comply with permit performance conditions.

(C)    Revocation of Shellfish Culture Permits and Shellfish Mariculture Permits may be delegated by the department director to the deputy director for Marine Resources.

Section 50-5-920.    (A)    If this State authorizes any activity or use which requires closure of shellfish bottoms or waters, the portion of permitted bottoms or waters which falls within the closed area may be removed from the permit acreage, and the permit acreage agreement and annual fee adjusted on the annual renewal date.

(B)    If any activity or use is permitted:

(1)    over the objections of the department; or

(2)    for a project of overriding public need;

and if the activity or use causes shellfish bottoms or waters to be unsuitable for the purposes of shellfish propagation or diminishes the productivity of any shellfish bottoms or waters, the agency which allowed the activity, upon recommendation by the department, must require mitigation for the loss of the resource. Mitigation must not be considered as a factor to justify adverse impacts, and this section must not be interpreted as authorizing any adverse impact on shellfish bottoms or waters.

(C)    If an unauthorized action results in an adverse impact on shellfish bottoms or waters, the responsible party may be required by the department to mitigate for the loss of the resource and to compensate the department's shellfish permittee.

(D)    Where shellfish grounds have been adversely impacted or closed by previous state authorization and there is additional adverse impact authorized by a state agency, the proponent (permittee) of the additional activity or use must mitigate the additional adverse impact. All such mitigation must benefit the resource.

(E)    Mitigation of adverse impacts on shellfish bottoms and waters must be determined by the department. The determination constitutes a final agency decision for the purposes of the Administrative Procedures Act.

Section 50-5-925.    Upon conditional approval by the department of the shellfish culture or mariculture application and map, the applicant must publish a notice in a form satisfactory to the department advising all interested persons that the applicant has applied for a Shellfish Culture Permit or Shellfish Mariculture Permit and provide a specific description of the bottoms or waters. The notice must be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of the proposed permit.

Section 50-5-930.    If a person state resident granted a Shellfish Culture Permit or a Shellfish Mariculture Permit reapplies for the same bottoms or waters in the next ensuing term, the department must give preference to that applicant if the applicant has complied with all requirements of this article and his permit.

Section 50-5-935.    Each person state resident granted a Shellfish Culture Permit or a Shellfish Mariculture Permit must pay an annual fee of five dollars an acre for the bottoms on which he has been granted shellfishing rights, or five dollars an acre of water surface determined at mean high water delineated on the permit map, or both, when waters above permitted bottoms are also permitted. In the case of bottoms, the annual permit fee must be based on the number of bottom acres producing or capable of producing shellfish. The annual fee for shellfish permits must be prorated from the first of the month following the issuance of the permit to February 1 next. Thereafter, all annual fees are payable in advance. On February 1, the department must invoice each permittee. If the annual fee is not paid by March 1, the department must add a late penalty of ten percent. If the department does not receive the fee and any penalty on or before April 1, the permit is void.

Section 50-5-940.    (A)    Each Shellfish Culture permittee must plant fifty bushels of shell, seed oysters, seed clams, or other approved culch, or equivalent as determined by the department, annually for each acre of bottoms in his permit. All culch planting must be done between May 1 and August 31, inclusive, except permittees may replant green oyster shell from current operations if the shell is replanted within three days after gathering. Seed oysters and seed clams may be planted at any time of the year. All planting must be done only after notice to and with the approval of the department.

(B)    The department may allow credit for planting on shellfish bottoms not under permit. If the plantings are previously approved by the department, credit must be given toward the permittee's annual quota in an amount equal to two times that of the number of bushels actually planted.

(C)    The department may provide incentives to permittees for improved or innovative management and cultivation techniques in the form of additional planting credits or planting variances.

(D)    If a permittee does not plant the required quota of approved culch or seed, his permit must be revoked or the permitted acreage reduced based upon the percentage of quota actually planted. In the event a permittee believes a permitted area, or a portion thereof, does not require planting for reasons of sound management, he must apply in writing to the department for a variance in his annual quota. The decision as to whether or not the bottoms must be planted or a variance given is within the discretion of the department. One cubic yard of approved culch is considered as twenty-one and seven-tenths bushels.

(E)    The provisions of this section do not apply to Shellfish Mariculture Permits.

Section 50-5-945.    Shellfish Culture permittees may acquire a permit to take shellfish for replanting from state bottoms designated by the department for that purpose. The permittee must make application to the department ten days before removing shellfish.

Section 50-5-950.    In addition to the requirements of this article, the department may specify other permit terms and conditions. The department may require a written agreement between or among permittees holding bottoms or waters within a specified perimeter boundary. If the permittee violates any terms or conditions of the permit or a written agreement, the department may revoke or suspend the permit.

Section 50-5-955.    (A)    The Department of Natural Resources may designate and shall maintain Public Shellfish Grounds where persons holding or exempted from holding a marine recreational fishing stamp as required by Article 19 of this chapter may gather shellfish solely for personal use not to exceed the personal limits specified in this article. The open areas must be located preferably at or near public landings. The Department of Natural Resources may not designate an area located within one thousand feet of highland property capable of development as a Public Shellfish Ground. Areas designated before January 1, 1996, are exempt from the siting provision of this section and retain their designation until such designation is removed by the department.

(B)    No area currently containing a structure permitted by the Department of Health and Environmental Control or its successor agency may be designated pursuant to this section. The Department of Health and Environmental Control or its successor agency may not issue a permit for utilization of a critical area designated as a Public Shellfish Ground.

(C)    A person taking shellfish from a Public Shellfish Ground for commercial purposes or selling or attempting to sell shellfish taken from a Public Shellfish Ground is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

Section 50-5-960.    (A)    The following provisions apply to the taking and possessing of shellfish from bottoms designated by the department for recreational shellfish harvest by persons not permitted to harvest shellfish for commercial purposes:

(1)    there is a personal limit of not more than two bushels of oysters or one-half bushel of clams, or both, in any one day;

(2)    no person may harvest shellfish recreationally on more than two calendar days per any seven-day period; and

(3)    regardless of the number of persons, there is a maximum possession limit of three personal limits per boat or vehicle or boat and vehicle combination.

(B)    No person other than a person state resident holding the required commercial license and permit may have in possession more than the daily limit provided in this article while on the waters of this State or the adjoining lands, provided that this prohibition does not apply to persons possessing or transporting properly tagged shellfish received from a licensed and certified wholesale seafood dealer.

(C)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

Section 50-5-965.    (A)    A person who takes shellfish from bottoms or waters designated for commercial harvest must possess an individual harvesting permit granted by the department if the person:

(1)    harvests or possesses quantities greater than those provided in this article for personal use; or

(2)    harvests for commercial purposes.

(B)    The department may limit the number of areas not under Shellfish Culture Permit or Shellfish Mariculture Permit on which an individual may be permitted to harvest.

(C)    When bottoms or waters are under permit for shellfish culture or mariculture, permittees may allow persons to harvest shellfish from bottoms and waters permitted to him. In addition to the permit required in subsection (A), harvesters must possess written approval from the Shellfish Culture permittee or Shellfish Mariculture permittee in a form approved by the department. Culture and Mariculture permittees must provide approved harvesters with the written permission and must maintain accurate record of harvesters' names, addresses, and, if available, telephone numbers.

(D)    It is unlawful for a person to take or attempt to take shellfish in quantities greater than those for personal use provided in this article from any state-owned bottoms or waters without having in his possession a valid individual commercial harvesting permit granted to him.

(E)    It is unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take shellfish from state-owned bottoms or waters under permit for shellfish culture or mariculture without a valid individual harvester permit granted to him by the department.

(F)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.

(G)    In order to obtain an individual harvester permit a person must be a licensed commercial saltwater fisherman and hold all other appropriate valid commercial licenses.

Section 50-5-970.    It is unlawful to take or attempt to take shellfish from any bottoms or waters of this State for any purpose by mechanically operated devices, including dredges, hydraulic escalators, patent tongs, hoists, cranes, and mechanical shellfish harvesters without obtaining a mechanical harvest permit from the department. A person taking or attempting to take shellfish by mechanically operated devices without an appropriate, valid mechanical harvesting permit is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days and must have his saltwater privileges suspended for twelve months. Any commercial equipment or vessel used in violating this section and any shellfish in possession at the time of a violation is contraband.

Section 50-5-975.    (A)    A person state resident permitted to harvest shellfish from state-owned bottoms for commercial purposes must harvest, whether for commercial or personal use, from only the areas of state bottoms specified on the permit. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

(B)    Following voluntary surrender of a commercial shellfish harvest permit by a commercial saltwater fisherman, the department must not reissue a commercial shellfish harvest permit to the person during the remainder of the license year.

Section 50-5-980.    It is unlawful for a person, without approval of the department, to erect or maintain any sign over or on any state shellfish bottoms or waters. However, a Culture or Mariculture Permit holder may erect signs approved by the department to designate areas under permit. This section in no way affects placement by an authorized public agency of signs for aid to navigation, public health, public safety, and geographic designation. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

Section 50-5-985.    (A)    The department annually may set the season for taking shellfish between September 16 of any year through May 15 of the following year, inclusive. It is unlawful for a person to take or attempt to take any shellfish from shellfish grounds during the closed season. A person who violates the provision provisions of this subsection for a commercial purpose is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days and must have his saltwater privileges suspended for twelve months. A person who violates this section for a noncommercial purpose is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

(B)    It is unlawful to take or attempt to take shellfish from any grounds closed by the department or any other authorized government agency. A person who violates the provision provisions of this subsection for a commercial purpose is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days and must have his saltwater privileges suspended for twelve months. A person who violates the provisions of this subsection for a noncommercial purpose is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

(C)    The department has the authority to open or close any area for the taking of shellfish for any specified period at any time during the year when biological or other conditions warrant.

(D)    Nothing in this section prevents the department from permitting the taking of shellfish for the purposes of replanting or propagation.

(E)    Shellfish imported into this State during the closed season must bear written evidence, such as a bill of lading or other official document from the State of removal, which verifies that the shellfish were lawfully taken from that state. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.

(F)    It is unlawful for a person to harvest shellfish between one-half hour after sunset as locally published and one-half hour before sunrise as locally published. In the case of bottoms under Shellfish Culture Permit or Shellfish Mariculture Permit harvesting of shellfish during the specified period is lawful with the written permission of the department.

Section 50-5-990.    (A)    It is unlawful to take or attempt to take, possess, sell, purchase, or import a hard clam of the genus Mercenaria of less than one inch in thickness as measured from the exterior surface of one shell of the intact clam to the exterior surface of the opposite shell. A person taking a clam of other than legal size must immediately return it to the bottoms from whence it came.

(B)    It is lawful for persons and entities state residents engaged in shellfish mariculture operations to possess mariculture clams of less than the minimum size specified in this section and to import, purchase, sell, or transplant undersized mariculture clams, as defined in this section, by obtaining a permit. It is also lawful for a licensed wholesale seafood dealer or retail restaurant to purchase and possess for resale undersized maricultured clams purchased from a mariculture operation permitted pursuant to this section, provided the licensed wholesale seafood dealer or retailer has proof of origin in possession for each lot of clams purchased.

(C)    A violation of this section by a person is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, that person must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

Section 50-5-995.    The department may permit persons and entities state residents engaged in shellfish mariculture operations to take, possess, and sell maricultured shellfish at any time during the year.

Section 50-5-1000.    (A)    It is unlawful for any wholesale seafood dealer to purchase shellfish produced, taken, or landed in this State from anyone who is not either:

(1)    a properly licensed and permitted commercial saltwater fisherman; or

(2)    a properly licensed wholesale seafood dealer.

(B)    The wholesale seafood dealer must maintain a record of all purchases of shellfish produced, taken, or landed in this State including the name and address of the person from whom purchased, the area where harvested, the type of shellfish purchased, the dates of harvest and purchase, and the commercial saltwater fisherman's license number. The record must be available for inspection by any law enforcement officer or department personnel for one year after the date of sale.

(C)    Any licensed wholesale seafood dealer who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars and must have his saltwater privileges suspended for twelve months.

Section 50-5-1005.    (A)    No molluscan shellfish, shellfish tissues, or shells may be imported into this State and placed in waters in this State except under the provisions of a shellfish importation permit.

(B)    The department may grant permits to persons to import molluscan shellfish, shellfish tissues, or shells into this State. Permits may include conditions related to:

(1)    the type or species of mollusks to be imported;

(2)    ancillary species attached to or associated with the species to be imported;

(3)    structure and placement of holding or storage facilities;

(4)    placement of the product in natural waters of this State;

(5)    disposal of shellfish, shellfish parts, and associated biota;

(6)    reporting requirements; and

(7)    other matters which are considered important by the department to the protection of the natural resources of this State.

A person who imports molluscan shellfish, shellfish tissues, or shells into this State for placement into state waters or waters connected to state waters must first acquire a permit from the department.

(C)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars and not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

Section 50-5-1010.    (A)    The department has jurisdiction over all natural shell deposits, including oysters, clams, and other mollusks occurring upon or within state-owned bottoms, and over all shell deposits lying above mean high water if those deposits have been created by the process of accretion to state-owned lands or bottoms.

(B)    The department may grant permits to remove shell from these deposits for use in shellfish cultivation and mariculture. The permits must be granted for a term not to exceed three years and must specify conditions for removal. Permits may be granted only when no significant ecological perturbations are foreseen. If permitted removal does cause significant ecological perturbations as a result of the permittee failing to abide by conditions of the permit, the permittee must restore the area to its original condition or as close to its original condition as possible. The department must specify a fixed price for each unit of shell removed. Payments for shell removed must be made by the permittee on or before the tenth day of each month for the preceding month.

Section 50-5-1015.    It is unlawful to remove shell from any shell deposits under state jurisdiction except as provided by this article. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

Section 50-5-1020.    It is unlawful to take, possess, sell, or purchase a living whelk (conch) of the genus Busycon of less than a size as determined by the department but not less than four inches in maximum dimension if taken or landed in this State for a commercial purpose, provided this prohibition does not apply to conchs of less than legal size taken during lawful trawling which are returned immediately to the water."

B.    Shellfish Culture Permits and Shellfish Mariculture Permits issued by the Department of Natural Resources before the effective date of this act shall remain in full force and effect for the duration of the permits.

SECTION    68.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 2:48 P.M.