AB 374

Current law generally requires that state agencies or other authorized state

purchasing agents award orders and contracts for materials, supplies, equipment,

and contractual services to the entity that provides the lowest responsible bid or most

advantageous competitive proposal. Current law contains several exceptions to this

requirement. One exception is a preference for Wisconsin producers, distributors,

suppliers, and retailers over any out-of-state vendor that is domiciled in a

jurisdiction that grants a preference to vendors domiciled in that jurisdiction. This

bill deletes this exception and, instead, requires state agencies and other purchasing

agents to maximize the awards given to businesses that have at least 50 percent of

their operations in Wisconsin or that plan to have at least 50 percent of their

operations in Wisconsin in the next year. To accomplish this goal, the state agency

or purchasing agent may purchase materials, supplies, equipment, and contractual

services from any such business that submits a bid or proposal that is no more than

5 percent higher than the apparent low bid or most advantageous proposal.