Maine Revised Statutes Title 5. Administrative Procedures and Services § 1743-C. Information to bidders on public improvement projects

1. Information to potential bidders. The Bureau of General Services or the procuring agency shall ensure that the bidding documents provided to potential bidders state that information concerning the availability of state subcontractors and suppliers, including women-owned businesses, is available from the Bureau of General Services or the Department of Economic and Community Development. The statement must indicate that the use of subcontractors and suppliers and women-owned businesses in the State in the procurement of its goods and services is encouraged where possible.

2. Notice to businesses. The Bureau of General Services shall adopt policies to promote the participation by enterprises doing business in this State and residents of this State in procurement contracts where possible. Policies must include, but are not limited to, providing for the notification of enterprises doing business in this State of opportunities to participate as subcontractors and suppliers on procurement contracts in an amount estimated to be equal to or greater than $100,000.

3. Notice to economic development organizations. The Bureau of General Services or the procuring state agency shall provide notice of all anticipated competitive contracting opportunities to an automated supplier matching service identified as appropriate by the Department of Economic and Community Development.

4. Annual education session. The Bureau of General Services shall sponsor an annual education session on procedures to procure contracts with the State. The Bureau of General Services shall notify business enterprises in this State who have demonstrated an interest in opportunities to participate as contractors, subcontractors or suppliers on procurement contracts of the time and place of this annual education session.

5. Annual report. On or before the first business day of July of each year, each state agency or department shall report to the Department of Economic and Community Development with information pertaining to the procurement contracts entered into in an amount equal to or greater than $50,000 by that agency or department during the previous year. The information must include the subject matter and value of the contracts, designation of each contractor as a business enterprise of this State or a foreign business enterprise, the process used to select the contractors and the status of each contract.

6. Federal funds. The provisions in this section apply to contracts involving funds obtained from the Federal Government unless expressly prohibited by federal law or regulations adopted pursuant to those laws.