Section 3314 - Contracts with vendorsA contract with a vendor other than a sole source vendor for purchase of services or for purchase or lease of supplies and equipment related to the council's powers and duties shall be let only after a public bidding process and only in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) The council shall prepare specifications fully describing the services to be rendered or equipment or supplies to be provided by a vendor and shall make the specifications available for inspection by a person at the council's offices during normal working hours and at other places and other times as the council deems advisable.(2) The council shall publish notice of invitations to bid in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and on the council's publicly accessible Internet website. The notice shall include at least the following: (i) The deadline for submission of bids by prospective vendors, which shall be no sooner than 30 days following the latest publication of the notice as prescribed under this paragraph.(ii) The locations, dates and times during which prospective vendors may examine the specifications required under paragraph (1).(iii) The date, time and place of the meeting or meetings of the council at which bids will be opened and accepted.(iv) A statement to the effect that any person is eligible to bid.(3) Bids shall be accepted as follows: (i) A council member who is affiliated in any way with a bidder may not vote on the awarding of a contract for which the bidder has submitted a bid. A council member who has an affiliation with a bidder shall state the nature of the affiliation prior to a vote of the council.(ii) Bids shall be opened and reviewed by the appropriate council committee, which shall make recommendations to the council on approval. Bids shall be accepted and the acceptance shall be announced only at a public meeting of the council as defined in section 3303(e) (relating to Health Care Cost Containment Council). A bid may not be accepted at an executive session of the council.(iii) The council may require that a certified check, in an amount determined by the council, accompany every bid. If required, a bid may not be accepted unless accompanied by a certified check.(4) In order to prevent a party from deliberately underbidding contracts in order to gain or prevent access to council data, the council may award a contract at the council's discretion, regardless of the amount of the bid, as follows: (i) A bid accepted must reasonably reflect the actual cost of services provided.(ii) A vendor selected by the council under this paragraph must be found by the council to be of the character and integrity as to assure, to the maximum extent possible, adherence to this chapter in the provision of contracted services.(iii) The council may require the selected vendor to furnish, within 20 days after the contract has been awarded, a bond with suitable and reasonable requirements guaranteeing the services to be performed with sufficient surety in an amount determined by the council. If the bond is not furnished within the time specified, the previous award shall be void.(5) The council shall make efforts to assure that the council's vendors have established affirmative action plans to assure equal opportunity policies for hiring and promoting employees.Added by P.L. TBD 2020 No. 15, § 1, eff. 4/20/2020.