Summary: This section states the purpose and scope of the Bureau of General Services' rules governing the equitable selection of contractor personal services.
5 MRSA1816-A allows contracting for personal services when any number of conditions is met. Generally examples include, but are not limited to, services which are highly specialized or technical in nature, when it's necessary to protect against a conflict of interest, if the location is such that state employees are not available, or the services are urgent, temporary or occasional in nature.
When contracting for personal services, agencies and departments are required to utilize a process of competitive bidding.
Contracting for personal services as part of 5 MRSA1816-A is permitted to achieve actual cost savings when other conditions are met. However, 5 MRSA18162, I requires that an equivalent basis for cost comparison between state employee and private contractor provision of services must be calculated by rules adopted by the State Purchasing Agent to assure that the private contractor provides the best value. All personal services contracts are subject to this rule.
18-554 C.M.R. ch. 155, § One-One