SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 17

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Steven P. Neville

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF GENERAL SERVICES TO DEVELOP GUIDANCE AND SECURE QUALIFIED TRAINING ON BIDS AND REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS FOR EMPLOYEES OF STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL PUBLIC BODIES THAT WILL ENABLE FAIR COMPETITION BY NEW MEXICO RESIDENT BUSINESSES AND CONTRACTORS.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico ranks forty-eighth in the nation in job growth; and

     WHEREAS, the Procurement Code provides preferences to New Mexico resident businesses and contractors, including resident veteran businesses and contractors, when a public body makes a purchase using a formal bid or request-for-proposals process; and

     WHEREAS, the procurement process is used to procure technical and professional services and certain items of tangible personal property by state agencies and local public bodies; and

     WHEREAS, state agencies and local public bodies include mandatory requirements in bids and requests for proposals that unnecessarily and unfairly place New Mexico resident businesses and contractors at a competitive disadvantage; and

     WHEREAS, the purchasing division of the general services department is empowered to procure a price agreement for services, construction or items of personal property, which may then be used by other state agencies and local public bodies to procure the services and property without further competitive processes; and

     WHEREAS, current statewide price agreements do not identify vendors that are New Mexico resident businesses or contractors;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of general services be requested to develop guidance and secure qualified training for employees of state agencies and local public bodies by persons experienced with the specifications and contractual terms in bids and requests for proposals that will not impede and will enable fair competition by New Mexico resident businesses and contractors for government contracts; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if a New Mexico resident business or contractor is a vendor on a statewide price agreement, the secretary of general services identify the resident business or contractor on the agreement and on any vendor list maintained by the purchasing division; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of general services.

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