Rule 3-412 - Procurement of goods and servicesIntent:
To identify the respective responsibilities of the judiciary and the Department of Administrative Services in the procurement of goods and services.
Applicability:
This rule shall apply to the judiciary's expenditure of funds appropriated by the legislature.
Statement of the Rule:
(1) Definitions. Except as provided in Subsection (2), all terms are defined as provided by the Utah Procurement Code, , as amended, the Regulations of the Utah State Procurement Policy Board, as amended and the Division of Purchasing's Policies and Procedures. Any discrepancy between the statutory definition and the definition contained in the regulations shall be controlled by the statutory definition.(2) Chief procurement officer. As used in this rule, chief procurement officer means the state court administrator. (3) Procurement officers. The state court administrator may designate others to serve as procurement officers for various parts of the judiciary. For example, court executives are the procurement officers for their courts. The state court administrator or designee or a procurement officer may enter into contracts or make written determinations with respect thereto as provided in this rule. Court Purchasing will advise procurement officers on purchases to ensure compliance with rules, policies, and statutes.(4) Contracts to conform to statute and regulations.(4)(A) All contracts for the procurement of supplies, services, or construction entered into, by or on behalf of the judiciary, shall conform to the Utah Procurement Code, as amended, the Regulations of the Utah State Procurement Policy Board, as amended and the Division of Purchasing's Policies and Procedures. Any discrepancy between the procedures provided for by statute and the procedures provided for by regulation shall be controlled by the statutory procedures. (4)(B) Subject to the availability of funds, the state court administrator may establish within the administrative office a procurement section that shall have the responsibility and authority as provided by the Utah Procurement Code and the Regulations of the Utah State Procurement Policy Board. Unless a procurement section is established, the judiciary shall work with and through the Department of Administrative Services, Division of Purchasing in the procurement of supplies, services, or construction. (5) Authority to contract. (5)(A) Contracts for the procurement of supplies, services, or construction for an amount greater than $5000 per individual item or $10,000 per overall purchase shall be approved by the state court administrator or his designated procurement officer. General Counsel shall approve such contracts as to form and legal sufficiency, and the manager of finance shall approve such contracts as to availability of funds. Other provisions for contract management contained in this Code shall be followed if they apply to the particular contract. (5)(B) Requests to enter into contracts greater than $5000 per individual item or $10,000 per overall purchase shall be directed to the Chief Procurement Officer or designee. The Chief Procurement Officer or designee shall coordinate all procedures required by the Utah Procurement Code, as amended, the Regulations of the Utah State Procurement Policy Board, as amended and the Division of Purchasing's Policies and Procedures. Before final award of the contract, the contract shall be approved pursuant to paragraph (5)(A). (5)(C) Court executives are authorized to approve and enter into contracts for the procurement of supplies, services, or construction on behalf of their courts when they are under the small purchase rule thresholds of up to $5,000 for individual items and up to $10,000 total per purchase. Court executives may enter into such contracts subject to the availability of funds and in accordance with paragraph (4) of this rule. (5)(D) Procurement requirements shall not be artificially divided so as to avoid the provisions of this rule. (5)(E) Courts should check to see if items are available on state contract before making a purchase by using the State Purchasing website contract search page or contacting Court Purchasing. Contract Search Page link: https://statecontracts.utah.gov/Home/Search.Utah Code Jud. Admin. 3-412
Amended September 13, 2022, effective 9/13/2022.