Bill > HB152

This bill revises the contracting procedures for counties and municipalities in Georgia, primarily focusing on how they acquire professional services such as architectural, engineering, surveying, and design work. The legislation expands existing state regulations to include local governments, establishing a standardized, qualifications-based selection process for professional services contracts. Under the new guidelines, local governments must publicly advertise their requirements, evaluate potential service providers based on criteria like professional personnel abilities, past performance, project approach, and office location, and select providers based on demonstrated competence rather than solely on cost. The bill allows local governments to negotiate with multiple service providers, enter into on-demand services contracts, and expand existing contracts with satisfactory providers. It removes the requirement for cost estimates to be submitted with initial qualifications and provides flexibility for local governments to determine their specific qualification criteria. The bill also clarifies definitions of professional services, local governments, and projects, and gives local governments the authority to adopt their own regulations to implement these new contracting procedures. These changes aim to create a more transparent, competitive, and efficient process for acquiring professional services at the local government level, while maintaining the principle of selecting the most qualified providers.

Government Affairs

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69589