HF 4 (LSB 1089HH (2) 85)

HOUSE FILE 4

BY  HANSON

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a centralized state school bus purchasing program administered by the department of administrative services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  8A.319  Centralized state school bus purchasing program.
   1.  The department shall develop procedures and specifications for the solicitation of bids for the purchase of school buses, in consultation with the department of education, school districts, and nonpublic schools. In soliciting bids, the department shall conform to all applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding standards for school buses.
   2.  As a condition of participating in the state school bus purchasing program, each bidder shall agree that if the bidder subsequently offers a substantially similar bid to another purchaser for a lower price, the bidder’s contract price with the state shall be automatically reduced to match the lower price.
   3.  As a condition of participating in the state school bus purchasing program, each bidder shall agree to include an option for school districts to trade in school buses currently in use.
   4.  The department may award a contract for purchase to any bidder or bidders responsive to the needs of at least one school district or nonpublic school participating in the program.
   5.  Participation in the state school bus purchasing program by school districts and nonpublic schools is voluntary. A school district or nonpublic school may accept any bid for which the department awards a contract for purchase. A school district or nonpublic school participating in the program shall conform to all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding standards for school buses. A school district or nonpublic school may participate in the program in lieu of following the procedures for the purchase of school buses prescribed by chapter 285.
   6.  The department, in conjunction with the department of education, shall adopt rules to administer this section.
    Sec. 2.  Section 285.10, subsection 7, paragraph b, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  By purchasing buses and entering into contracts to pay for such buses
 
in accordance with section 8A.319 or over a five-year period as follows:  one-fourth of the cost when the bus is delivered and the balance in equal annual installments, plus simple interest due. The interest rate shall be the lowest rate available and shall not exceed the rate in effect under section 74A.2. The bus shall serve as security for balance due. Competitive bids on comparable equipment shall be requested on all school bus purchases and shall be based upon minimum construction standards established by the department of education. Bids shall be requested unless the bus is a used or demonstrator bus.
EXPLANATION
   This bill establishes a centralized state school bus purchasing program administered by the department of administrative services. The bill directs the department of administrative services to develop procedures and specifications for the solicitation of bids for the purchase of school buses, in consultation with the department of education, school districts, and nonpublic schools. In soliciting bids, the department must conform to all applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding standards for school buses.
   The bill provides that as a condition of participating in the state school bus purchasing program, each bidder must agree that if the bidder subsequently offers a substantially similar bid to another purchaser for a lower price, the bidder’s contract price with the state will be automatically reduced to match the lower price. The bill provides that as a condition of participating in the program, each bidder must also agree to include an option for school districts to trade in school buses currently in use.
   The bill provides that the department of administrative services may award a contract for purchase to any bidder or bidders responsive to the needs of at least one school district or nonpublic school participating in the state school bus purchasing program.
   The bill provides that participation in the state school bus purchasing program by school districts and nonpublic schools is voluntary. The bill provides that a school district or nonpublic school may accept any bid for which the department of administrative services awards a contract for purchase. The bill provides that a school district or nonpublic school participating in the program must conform to all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations regarding standards for school buses. The bill specifies that a school district or nonpublic school may participate in the program in lieu of following the procedures for the purchase of school buses prescribed by Code chapter 285.
   The bill directs the department of administrative services, in conjunction with the department of education, to adopt rules to administer the bill.