CHAPTER 58*

PURCHASES AND PRINTING

*See note at end of sections 4c-1 to 4c-3, inclusive, re former use of this chapter number.

Table of Contents


Note: Readers should refer to the 2024 Supplement, revised to January 1, 2024, for updated versions of statutes amended, repealed or added during the 2023 legislative sessions.


Sec. 4a-50. (Formerly Sec. 4-109). Definitions.

Sec. 4a-51. (Formerly Sec. 4-110). Duties of Administrative Services Commissioner re purchases.

Sec. 4a-52. (Formerly Sec. 4-111). Regulations.

Sec. 4a-52a. Purchases by constituent units of the state system of higher education. Disqualification from bidding. Delegation of purchasing authority to state agencies.

Sec. 4a-52b. Circumstances in which constituent units authorized to purchase by negotiation.

Sec. 4a-53. (Formerly Sec. 4-110c). Cooperative purchasing plans. Purchase from person having contract to sell to other governmental or nonprofit entities or public purchasing consortia.

Sec. 4a-53a. Contracting agent for group of municipalities.

Sec. 4a-54. (Formerly Sec. 4-110a). Purchasing by certain institutions through Administrative Services Commissioner.

Sec. 4a-55. (Formerly Sec. 4-110b). Laundry service and supply contracts.

Sec. 4a-56. (Formerly Sec. 4-123). Purchasing standards and specifications.

Sec. 4a-57. (Formerly Sec. 4-112). Competitive bidding or competitive negotiation for purchases and contracts. Regulations. Waivers. Exceptions.

Sec. 4a-57a. Distribution of surplus state property. Lease of property to municipalities.

Sec. 4a-57b. Program to encourage bidding on state contracts by businesses which trade with African countries.

Sec. 4a-57c. Multiple criteria bids or proposals. Pilot program.

Sec. 4a-57d. Report re resident bidders. Program to increase state contract awards to resident bidders.

Sec. 4a-57e. Purchases of personal protective equipment. List of companies. Report.

Sec. 4a-58. (Formerly Sec. 4-113). Standardization Committee. Waiver of bid or proposal requirement.

Sec. 4a-59. (Formerly Sec. 4-114). Award of contracts.

Sec. 4a-59a. Restrictions on contract extensions. Exceptions. Explanation of reasons for noncompliance.

Sec. 4a-60. (Formerly Sec. 4-114a). Nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions in awarding agency, municipal public works and quasi-public agency project contracts.

Sec. 4a-60a. Provisions re nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation required in awarding agency, municipal public works and quasi-public agency project contracts.

Sec. 4a-60b. Reverse auctions. Use by contracting agencies authorized.

Secs. 4a-60c to 4a-60f. Reserved

Sec. 4a-60g. (Formerly Sec. 32-9e). Set-aside programs for small contractors and minority business enterprises.

Sec. 4a-60h. (Formerly Sec. 32-9f). Administration of state set-aside program. Administration of set-aside program for municipal public works and quasi-public agency project contracts. Regulations.

Sec. 4a-60i. (Formerly Sec. 32-9g). Responsibilities of agency heads to negotiate and approve contracts not affected.

Sec. 4a-60j. (Formerly Sec. 32-9h). Time for payment of contractors.

Sec. 4a-61. (Formerly Sec. 4-114b). Award of contracts concerning minority business enterprises.

Sec. 4a-62. (Formerly Sec. 4-114c). Minority Business Enterprise Review Committee.

Sec. 4a-63. Disqualification from bidding on contracts. Suspension.

Sec. 4a-64. (Formerly Sec. 4-116). Persons not to be interested in contract.

Sec. 4a-65. (Formerly Sec. 4-115). Unlawful purchases.

Sec. 4a-66. (Formerly Sec. 4-25). Acquisition of federal property. Contracts with federal agencies concerning health services. Exemption from statutes or municipal charter. Purchasing from federal contractors.

Sec. 4a-67. (Formerly Sec. 4-120a). Acquisition of federal surplus property.

Sec. 4a-67a. Efforts to increase state purchase of goods containing recyclable materials and goods capable of being recycled or remanufactured.

Sec. 4a-67b. Elimination of use of disposable and single-use products in state government.

Sec. 4a-67c. Equipment and appliances for state use, energy standards.

Sec. 4a-67d. Purchase of cars, light duty trucks and buses. Gasoline mileage ratings. Alternative-fuel, hybrid electric or plug-in electric vehicles. Battery electric vehicles and zero-emission buses. Requirements. Exemptions. Reports. Aggregate procurement.

Sec. 4a-67e. Standards for purchase of recycled paper.

Sec. 4a-67f. Specifications for printing and writing paper.

Sec. 4a-67g. Recycling and remanufacture of laser printer toner cartridges.

Sec. 4a-67h. Procedures promoting the procurement and use of recycled products and environmentally preferable products and services by state agencies.

Secs. 4a-68 to 4a-70. (Formerly Secs. 4-34, 4-117, 4-124). Commissioner to contract for state printing; exception; reproduction of documents filed with certain agencies. Commissioner of Administrative Services to approve requests for microcopying services. Forms used by state agencies; duties of Administrative Services Commissioner re forms.

Sec. 4a-70a. Prohibition on printing state stationery containing party symbol.

Sec. 4a-71. (Formerly Sec. 4-121a). Prompt payment by state departments and agencies.

Sec. 4a-72. (Formerly Sec. 4-121b). Prompt payment. Exceptions.

Sec. 4a-73. (Formerly Sec. 4-121c). Administration of prompt payment provisions.

Sec. 4a-74. (Formerly Sec. 4-110d). Governmental exemption from public utility late payment charge.

Sec. 4a-75. (Formerly Sec. 4-122). Payment of obligations. Department of Administrative Services Revolving Fund.

Sec. 4a-76. (Formerly Sec. 4-122a). Recording of estimated requirements.

Sec. 4a-77. Definitions.

Sec. 4a-78. State policy with respect to providing Social Security numbers and federal employer identification numbers.

Sec. 4a-79. Federal Social Security number or employer identification number required on each license issued by a public agency.

Sec. 4a-80. Federal Social Security number or employer identification number required of all contractors purchasing goods or services.

Sec. 4a-81. Contracts for goods and services over fifty thousand dollars. Representations in contract re consulting agreements. Failure to agree to representations.

Sec. 4a-82. Janitorial work program for persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage. Inclusion of contractual services in program.

Secs. 4a-83 to 4a-99. Reserved


Sec. 4a-50. (Formerly Sec. 4-109). Definitions. When used in this chapter, unless the context indicates a different meaning:

(1) “State agency” includes any officer, department, board, council, commission, institution or other agency of the Executive Department of the state government;

(2) “Supplies”, “materials” and “equipment” mean any and all articles of personal property furnished to or used by any state agency, including all printing, binding, publication of laws, stationery, forms, and reports;

(3) “Contractual services” means any and all laundry and cleaning service, pest control service, janitorial service, security service, the rental and repair, or maintenance, of equipment, machinery and other state-owned personal property, advertising and photostating, mimeographing, and other service arrangements where the services are provided by persons other than state employees;

(4) “Competitive bidding” means the submission of prices by persons, firms or corporations competing for a contract to provide supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services, under a procedure in which the contracting authority does not negotiate prices;

(5) “Competitive negotiation” means a procedure for contracting for supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services, in which (A) proposals are solicited from qualified suppliers by a request for proposals, and (B) changes may be negotiated in proposals and prices after being submitted;

(6) “Bidder” means a person, firm or corporation submitting a competitive bid in response to a solicitation; and

(7) “Proposer” means a person, firm or corporation submitting a proposal in response to a request for proposals.

(1949 Rev., S. 250; March, 1950, S. 90d; 1963, P.A. 66, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 257; P.A. 77-444, S. 1; P.A. 82-99, S. 1, 3; P.A. 88-297, S. 2; P.A. 90-252, S. 1, 10; P.A. 93-42, S. 2, 4; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9, S. 18, 50; P.A. 00-66, S. 10.)

History: 1963 act deleted telephone service from definition of contractual services; 1967 act redefined “contractual services” to include advertising photostating, mimeographing, key punching and other machine service arrangements not provided by state employees; P.A. 77-444 included janitorial and security services in definition of “contractual services”, excluded purchase of space or time from consideration as advertising contractual service and deleted gas, water, electric light and power services from definition; P.A. 82-99 removed former exception of advertising space or time from definition of contractual services; P.A. 88-297 substituted “data entry, data processing” for “keypunching” and added definitions for “competitive bidding”, “competitive negotiation”, “bidder” and “proposer”; Sec. 4-109 transferred to Sec. 4a-50 in 1989; P.A. 90-252 extended applicability of definitions in this section to Sec. 4a-59a; P.A. 93-42 redefined “supplies”, “materials” and “equipment” to include electronic data processing equipment and telecommunications equipment and added “telecommunications” to definition of contractual services, effective May 5, 1993; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9 redefined “supplies”, “materials” and “equipment” by deleting “electronic data processing equipment and telecommunications equipment” and redefined “contractual services” by deleting “data entry, data processing, telecommunications”, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 00-66 divided section into Subdivs.

Annotation to former section 4-109:

Cited. 190 C. 212.

Sec. 4a-51. (Formerly Sec. 4-110). Duties of Administrative Services Commissioner re purchases. (a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall: (1) Purchase, lease or contract for all supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services required by any state agency, except as provided in sections 4-98 and 4a-57; (2) enforce standard specifications established in accordance with section 4a-56; (3) establish and operate a central duplicating and mailing room for state agencies located in or near the city of Hartford and such other places as he deems practical; and (4) establish and operate or have supervisory control over other central supply services in such locations as may best serve the requirements of the state agencies.

(b) The Commissioner of Administrative Services, when purchasing or contracting for the purchase of dairy products, poultry, eggs, beef, pork, lamb, farm-raised fish, fruits or vegetables pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall give preference to dairy products, poultry, eggs, beef, pork, lamb, farm-raised fish, fruits or vegetables grown or produced in this state, when such products, poultry, eggs, beef, pork, lamb, farm-raised fish, fruits or vegetables are comparable in cost to other dairy products, poultry, eggs, beef, pork, lamb, farm-raised fish, fruits or vegetables being considered for purchase by the commissioner that have not been grown or produced in this state.

(March, 1950, 1951, S. 91d; 1959, P.A. 258, S. 2; 480; P.A. 77-614, S. 88, 323, 610; P.A. 83-143, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-42, S. 1, 4; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9, S. 19, 50; P.A. 04-222, S. 2; P.A. 05-287, S. 9; P.A. 13-72, S. 1.)

History: 1959 acts substituted “director of purchases” for “supervisor of purchases” and added Subdiv. (f); P.A. 77-614 replaced director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services and department of health with department of health services, the latter effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 83-143 replaced alphabetic Subdiv. indicators with numeric indicators, deleted provision whereby commissioner was granted “supervisory control” of all storage facilities of state property and reworded remaining provisions re commissioner's duties concerning storerooms and warehouses; Sec. 4-110 transferred to Sec. 4a-51 in 1989; P.A. 93-42 added in Subdiv. (1) authorization for commissioner to lease and provision requiring consultation with executive director of office of information and technology re electronic data processing and telecommunication equipment and services, effective May 5, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9 amended Subdiv. (1) by deleting proviso that data processing and telecommunications purchases, leases and contracts be made in consultation with the executive director of the Office of Information and Technology, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 04-222 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) requiring commissioner to give purchasing preference to certain dairy products, poultry, eggs, fruits and vegetables grown or produced in this state, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 05-287 amended Subsec. (a) to delete former Subdiv. (3) re the establishment of store rooms and warehouses and former Subdiv. (4) re the operation of trucks and garages necessary to deliver supplies, redesignate existing Subdiv. (5) as new Subdiv. (3) and eliminate requirement therein that the State Library photostat and offset printing department and the duplicating facilities of the Department of Public Health remain as constituted, and redesignate existing Subdiv. (6) as new Subdiv. (4) and eliminate requirement therein to operate central or regional bakeries, meat cutting establishments and laundry supply services, effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 13-72 amended Subsec. (b) to include preference for beef, pork, lamb and farm-raised fish grown or produced in this state, effective June 5, 2013.

See Sec. 31-237(b) re purchase of supplies and equipment by Employment Security Division of Labor Department.

Annotation to former section 4-110:

Cited. 190 C. 212.

Sec. 4a-52. (Formerly Sec. 4-111). Regulations. Not later than January 1, 1995, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall adopt regulations for the following purposes: (1) To authorize any agency to purchase directly specified supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services under prescribed conditions and procedure; (2) to authorize, in writing, any state agency to purchase, in the open market without filing a requisition or estimate, specified supplies, materials or equipment for immediate delivery to meet emergencies arising from unforeseen causes, including delays by contractors, delays in transportation and an unanticipated volume of work, provided a report of any such purchase, with a record of the competitive quotations upon which it was based and a full account of the circumstances of the emergency, shall be submitted at once to said commissioner by the administrative head of the agency concerned and provided such report shall be entered by him on a record and shall be open to public inspection; (3) to prescribe the manner in which supplies, materials and equipment shall be purchased, delivered, stored and distributed; (4) to prescribe the manner of making requisitions and estimates, the future periods which they are to cover, the form in which they shall be submitted and the manner of their authentication; (5) to prescribe the manner of inspecting all deliveries of supplies, materials and equipment and of making chemical and physical tests of samples submitted with bids or proposals and samples of deliveries to determine whether or not the specifications are being complied with; (6) to provide for the transfer to or between such state agencies of supplies, materials and equipment which are surplus with one such agency but which may be needed by another or others, and for the disposal by sale of supplies, materials and equipment which are obsolete or unusable; (7) to prescribe the amount of deposit or bond to be submitted with a bid or a contract and the amount of deposit or bond to be given for the faithful performance of a contract; (8) to carry out the provisions of section 4a-59a; (9) to specify the categories of purchases which are not subject to the competitive bidding requirements of section 4a-57; (10) to indicate the types of objective criteria that may be used by the commissioner in determining “lowest responsible qualified bidder” for the purposes of section 4a-59; (11) to define the term “minor irregularities” for the purposes of section 4a-59, provided such term shall not include (A) variations in the quality, unit price or date of delivery or completion of supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services or (B) exceptions to programs required under the general statutes; (12) to provide for any other matters necessary to effect the provisions of this chapter and the regulations promulgated in pursuance thereof; (13) to establish policies and procedures for use by agencies in preparing specifications which will ensure that such specifications shall not be unreasonably restrictive and shall encourage competition; (14) to determine when the commissioner or his designee may cancel a procurement; (15) to establish guidelines governing the use of “brand name or equal” specifications; (16) to establish procedures by which a bidder or proposer may request reconsideration of an award determination; (17) to establish guidelines governing the use of remanufactured goods and circumstances under which remanufactured goods must be used by requesting agencies; and (18) to determine when the commissioner or his designee may amend or reject a bid specification.

(1949 Rev., S. 251; 1959, P.A. 258, S. 3; P.A. 77-614, S. 92, 610; P.A. 88-297, S. 3; P.A. 90-252, S. 5, 10; P.A. 91-57, S. 2; P.A. 94-126, S. 2.)

History: 1959 act substituted “director of purchases” for “supervisor of purchases”; P.A. 77-614 replaced director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 88-297 substituted “quotations” for “bids” in Subdiv. (2) and added “or proposals” in Subdiv. (5); Sec. 4-111 transferred to Sec. 4a-52 in 1989; P.A. 90-252 imposed July 1, 1990, deadline for adoption of regulations and inserted Subdivs. (9) to (12), inclusive, re additional purposes for regulations, renumbering as necessary; P.A. 91-57 repealed former Subdiv. (6) re regulations requiring agency reports of supplies, materials and equipment on hand, and renumbered remaining Subdivs.; P.A. 94-126 changed deadline for adoption of regulations from July 1, 1990, to January 1, 1995, and added Subdivs. (13) to (18).

Sec. 4a-52a. Purchases by constituent units of the state system of higher education. Disqualification from bidding. Delegation of purchasing authority to state agencies. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4a-51 or 4a-52, the chief executive officer of each constituent unit of the state system of higher education or, in the case of the Connecticut State University System, the chief executive officer of a state university, is authorized to purchase supplies, materials, equipment, contractual services, as defined in section 4a-50, execute personal service agreements as defined in section 4-212, lease personal property in accordance with section 10a-151b, and undertake printing, publishing and microfilming for such constituent unit or institution. The provisions of sections 4-212 to 4-219, inclusive, and section 9 of public act 93-336* shall not apply to personal service agreements executed pursuant to this section.

(b) The chief executive officer of each constituent unit of the state system of higher education or, in the case of the Connecticut State University System, the chief executive officer of a state university may disqualify any person, firm or corporation, for up to two years, from bidding on contracts with the constituent unit or institutions under its jurisdiction, pursuant to section 10a-151b, for supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services required by the constituent unit or institution, for one or more causes specified in subsection (d) of this section. The chief executive officer may initiate a disqualification proceeding only after consulting with the Attorney General and shall provide notice and an opportunity to be heard to the person, firm or corporation which is the subject of the proceeding. The chief executive officer shall issue a written decision within ninety days of the last date of such hearing and state in the decision the reasons for the action taken, and if the person, firm or corporation is being disqualified, the period of the disqualification. The chief executive officer shall send the decision to such person, firm or corporation by certified mail, return receipt requested, and a copy of the decision shall be sent to the Commissioner of Administrative Services. The written decision shall be a final decision for the purposes of sections 4-180 and 4-183.

(c) Before initiating such a proceeding or during the proceeding, the chief executive officer may, after consulting with the Attorney General, suspend the person, firm or corporation from being considered for the awarding of such a contract for such supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services, if the chief executive officer determines that there is probable cause for disqualification under subsection (b) of this section. No such suspension shall exceed three months. The chief executive officer may suspend such a person, firm or corporation only by issuing a written decision setting forth the reasons for, and the period of the suspension. The chief executive officer shall send the decision to such person, firm or corporation by certified mail, return receipt requested, and a copy of the decision shall be sent to the Commissioner of Administrative Services.

(d) Causes for disqualification or suspension from bidding on contracts shall include the following:

(1) Conviction or entry of a plea of guilty for commission of a criminal offense as an incident to obtaining or attempting to obtain a public or private contract or subcontract, or in the performance of such contract or subcontract;

(2) Conviction or entry of a plea of guilty under state or federal law for embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property or any other offense indicating a lack of business integrity or business honesty which affects responsibility as a state contractor;

(3) Conviction or entry of a plea of guilty under state or federal antitrust, collusion or conspiracy statutes arising out of the submission of bids or proposals;

(4) Noncompliance with contract provisions, of a character regarded by the chief executive officer to be of such gravity as to indicate a lack of responsibility to perform as a contractor, including deliberate failure, without good cause, to perform in accordance with specifications or time limits provided in a contract;

(5) A recent record of failure to perform or of unsatisfactory performance in accordance with the terms of one or more contracts, unless such failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance was caused by acts beyond the control of the contractor or supplier; or

(6) Any other cause the chief executive officer determines to be so serious or compelling as to affect responsibility as a contractor, including disqualification by another government entity, having caused financial loss to the state or having caused a serious delay or inability of state officials to carry out their duties on a past contract.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 4a-51 and 4a-52, the Commissioner of Administrative Services may delegate authority to any state agency to purchase supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services, consistent with section 4a-67c, if the commissioner determines, in writing, that (1) such delegation would reduce state purchasing costs or result in more efficient state purchasing, and (2) the agency has employees with experience and expertise in state purchasing statutes, regulations and procedures. In determining which agencies to delegate such purchasing authority to, the commissioner shall give preference to agencies which have exceeded the set-aside requirements of section 4a-60g. An agency to whom such authority is delegated shall comply with all such statutes, regulations and procedures. The Commissioner of Administrative Services or his or her designee shall periodically review each such delegation of purchasing authority and may revoke or modify a delegation upon determining that the agency has violated any provision of the delegation or that there is evidence of insufficient competition in the competitive bidding or competitive negotiation process.

(P.A. 88-192, S. 1, 2; P.A. 90-91; P.A. 91-256, S. 8, 69; P.A. 93-201, S. 2, 24; P.A. 95-285, S. 1, 9; P.A. 96-88, S. 3, 9; P.A. 00-66, S. 27; P.A. 12-205, S. 4; P.A. 21-76, S. 20.)

*Note: Section 9 of public act 93-336 is special in nature and therefore has not been codified but remains in full force and effect according to its terms.

History: P.A. 90-91 added Subsec. (b) permitting commissioner of administrative services to authorize the department of correction to purchase supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services for industrial activities when amount of purchase is $20,000 or less; P.A. 91-256 in Subsec. (a) added references to Sec. 4a-51, 4a-68, 4a-69 and 4a-70, language concerning printing, publishing, and microfilming and language concerning the Connecticut State University system and removed language concerning delegation of authority by the commissioner of administrative services and a $20,000 limitation on purchases which could be delegated; P.A. 93-201 amended Subsec. (a) to add the language on personal service agreements and on the leasing of personal property, relettered Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (e), and inserted new Subsecs. (b) to (d), inclusive, on the disqualification of persons, firms or corporations from bidding on contracts with a constituent unit, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-285 allowed Commissioner of Administrative Services to delegate purchasing authority to all state agencies, instead of to Department of Correction only, established procedures re delegations of authority, and required commissioner to report annually to General Assembly re such delegations, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-88 deleted references to repealed Secs. 4a-68, 4a-69 and 4a-70 in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 00-66 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 4-210 from Subsec. (a); P.A. 12-205 amended Subsec. (e) to make technical changes and delete annual report requirement, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 21-76 amended Subsec. (e) to delete requirement delegated agency submit annual reports re purchase orders, effective July 1, 2021.

Sec. 4a-52b. Circumstances in which constituent units authorized to purchase by negotiation. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, a constituent unit of the state system of higher education or an institution of the Connecticut State University System, may purchase, by negotiation, supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services, as defined in section 4a-50, for the constituent unit or institution, as appropriate, when the supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services (1) are required to implement a grant, contract or financial agreement between the constituent unit or institution, as appropriate, and the donor of funds or other things of value which are given with an obligation for service primarily to the donor by the constituent unit or institution, as appropriate and (2) are specified in such grant, contract or financial agreement.

(P.A. 89-267, S. 6; P.A. 94-245, S. 22, 46.)

History: P.A. 94-245 deleted provision limiting the authority of the constituent units to purchase to cases in which the amount to be purchased is estimated to be $20,000 or less and applied the section to institutions of the Connecticut State University System, effective June 2, 1994.

Sec. 4a-53. (Formerly Sec. 4-110c). Cooperative purchasing plans. Purchase from person having contract to sell to other governmental or nonprofit entities or public purchasing consortia. (a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services may join with federal agencies, other state governments, political subdivisions of this state or nonprofit organizations in cooperative purchasing plans when the best interests of the state would be served thereby.

(b) Any state agency, with the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services or his or her designee, may purchase equipment, supplies, materials and services from a person who has a contract to sell such property or services to other state governments, other branches, divisions or departments of this state, political subdivisions of this state, nonprofit organizations or public purchasing consortia, in accordance with the terms and conditions of such contract.

(c) The Commissioner of Administrative Services, in conjunction with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and within available appropriations, shall make known to the chief executive officer of each municipality the existence of cooperative plans for the purchase of recycled paper.

(1969, P.A. 433; P.A. 77-408; 77-614, S. 91, 610; P.A. 90-224, S. 10; P.A. 10-3, S. 14; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 21-76, S. 15.)

History: P.A. 77-408 included nonprofit organizations under provisions of section; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of administrative services for director of purchases; Sec. 4-110c transferred to Sec. 4a-53 in 1989; P.A. 90-224 added Subsec. (b) re notification of existence of cooperative plans for recycled paper; P.A. 10-3 added new Subsec. (b) allowing state to purchase equipment, supplies, materials and services from person with contract for sale of such property or services to other governmental or nonprofit entities or public purchasing consortia, in accordance with such contract, and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), effective April 14, 2010; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 21-76 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “The state, through” with “Any state agency, with the approval of”, and adding “or his or her designee” and “other branches, divisions or departments of this state,”, effective July 1, 2021.

Sec. 4a-53a. Contracting agent for group of municipalities. The Commissioner of Administrative Services may serve as the contracting agent for a group of three or more municipalities that seek to purchase supplies, materials or equipment, upon the request of such group of municipalities, provided (1) the commissioner determines that the municipalities will achieve a cost savings through the commissioner serving as the contracting agent, and (2) such cost savings are greater than the administrative costs to the state for the commissioner serving as the contracting agent. As the contracting agent for such a group of municipalities, the Commissioner of Administrative Services may perform administrative functions in accordance with state procurement laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the following: Issuing requests for bids or proposals, selecting the successful bidder based on competitive bidding or competitive negotiation and administering any contracts for such purchases. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the state to be a party to any such contract entered into pursuant to this section.

(Nov. 24 Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-2, S. 1.)

History: Nov. 24 Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-2 effective November 25, 2008.

Sec. 4a-54. (Formerly Sec. 4-110a). Purchasing by certain institutions through Administrative Services Commissioner. Connecticut Children's Medical Center, The American School at Hartford for the Deaf, The Connecticut Institute for the Blind, any other institution or agency that receives at least sixty per cent of its funding from the state or federal government, or both, and, by contract, any independent institution of higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, may each purchase through the Commissioner of Administrative Services such supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services as such institutions require at the cost thereof to the state.

(February, 1965, P.A. 127; P.A. 77-301; 77-614, S. 89, 610; P.A. 84-214; P.A. 01-106, S. 2, 6; P.A. 14-65, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 77-301 included institutions or agencies with 75% or more state and/or federal government under provisions of section; P.A. 77-614 replaced purchasing division of department of finance and control with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 84-214 decreased funding percentage required from 75% to 60% and added contractual services; Sec. 4-110a transferred to Sec. 4a-54 in 1989; P.A. 01-106 substituted “Connecticut Children's Medical Center” for “Newington Children's Hospital” and included independent colleges and universities under provisions of section, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 14-65 made technical changes, effective July 1, 2014.

Sec. 4a-55. (Formerly Sec. 4-110b). Laundry service and supply contracts. Section 4a-55 is repealed, effective July 1, 2013.

(1969, P.A. 741; P.A. 77-614, S. 90, 610; P.A. 13-225, S. 9.)

Sec. 4a-56. (Formerly Sec. 4-123). Purchasing standards and specifications. The Commissioner of Administrative Services or his designee may classify the requirements of the state government for supplies, materials and equipment which may be purchased by the state and may adopt as standards the minimum number of qualities, sizes and varieties of such supplies, materials and equipment consistent with the successful operation of the state government. If the commissioner adopts any such standards, the commissioner shall prepare, adopt and promulgate written specifications describing such standards, provided specifications shall not be required for any supplies, materials or equipment for which the commissioner determines that the cost of preparing specifications would outweigh the benefits. In the preparation and revision of any such standard specification, the commissioner or his designee may seek the advice, assistance and cooperation of the state agencies concerned in order to ascertain their precise requirements. Each specification adopted for any commodity shall satisfy the requirements of the state departments, agencies and institutions which are to make use of the same, unless the commissioner approves a waiver of the specification and states the reason for the waiver in writing. In developing specifications for the purchase of motor vehicles, the commissioner or his designee shall consider motor vehicles using alternative fuels. The commissioner may adopt energy performance standards.

(1949 Rev., S. 256; 1959, P.A. 258, S. 13; P.A. 77-614, S. 104, 610; P.A. 88-297, S. 8; P.A. 90-219, S. 1; P.A. 94-126, S. 3; P.A. 95-285, S. 2, 9; 95-346, S. 1, 4; P.A. 99-161, S. 1, 11; P.A. 16-173, S. 5.)

History: 1959 act substituted “director of purchases” for “supervisor of purchases”; P.A. 77-614 repealed director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 88-297 added exception to requirement of standards and specifications for supplies, materials or equipment for which commissioner determines that cost of preparing standards and specifications would outweigh benefits; Sec. 4-123 transferred to Sec. 4a-56 in 1989; P.A. 90-219 required the committee to consider motor vehicles using alternative fuels when developing specifications; P.A. 94-126 added the comptroller and treasurer or their designees to the committee, required commissioner's determination re cost and benefits of preparing standards and specifications be in writing and added provision re waiver of specifications; P.A. 95-285 substituted the Commissioner of Administrative Services or his designee for the Standardization Committee, deleting provision describing members comprising committee, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-346 added provision re energy performance standards, effective July 1, 1995 (Revisor's note: The phrase “The committee may adopt the energy performance standards” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “The commissioner may adopt the energy performance standards” to reflect the provisions of P.A. 95-285 described above); P.A. 99-161 made standards permissive rather than mandatory and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 16-173 deleted “established pursuant to subsection (j) of section 16a-38” and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2016.

See Sec. 4a-58 re Standardization Committee.

Sec. 4a-57. (Formerly Sec. 4-112). Competitive bidding or competitive negotiation for purchases and contracts. Regulations. Waivers. Exceptions. (a) All purchases of, and contracts for, supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services, except purchases and contracts made pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) or (d) of this section and public utility services as provided in subsection (e) of this section shall be based, when possible, on competitive bids or competitive negotiation. The commissioner shall solicit competitive bids or proposals by providing notice of the planned purchase in a form and manner that the commissioner determines will maximize public participation in the competitive bidding or competitive negotiation process, including participation by small contractors, as defined in section 4a-60g, and promote competition. In the case of an expenditure that is estimated to exceed fifty thousand dollars, such notice shall be posted, not less than five calendar days before the final date of submitting bids or proposals, on the State Contracting Portal. Each notice of a planned purchase under this subsection shall indicate the type of goods and services to be purchased and the estimated value of the contract award. The notice shall also contain a notice of state contract requirements concerning nondiscrimination and affirmative action pursuant to section 4a-60 and, when applicable, requirements concerning the awarding of contracts to small contractors, minority business enterprises, individuals with a disability and nonprofit corporations pursuant to section 4a-60g. Each bid and proposal shall be kept sealed or secured until opened publicly at the time stated in the notice soliciting such bid or proposal.

(b) The commissioner may, at the commissioner's discretion, waive the requirement of competitive bidding or competitive negotiation in the case of minor nonrecurring or emergency purchases of ten thousand dollars or less in amount.

(c) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, establishing (1) standards and procedures for using competitive negotiation for purchases and contracts, including but not limited to, criteria which shall be considered in making purchases by competitive negotiation and the weight which shall be assigned to each such criterion, and (2) standards and procedures under which additional purchases may be made under existing contracts.

(d) The commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and with the approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, may waive the requirement of competitive bidding or competitive negotiation in the case of a purchase of cars or light-duty trucks in order to comply with any provisions of the general statutes regarding the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles or any such requirement of federal law.

(e) (1) The purchase of or contract for the following public utility services shall not be subject to competitive bidding or competitive negotiation: (A) Electric distribution services; (B) water services; (C) gas distribution services; (D) electric generation services until the date such services are competitive pursuant to the schedule set forth in section 16-244b, provided electric generation services shall be exempt from competitive bidding and competitive negotiation after said date if such services are provided by an electric municipal utility other than by a participating electric municipal utility, as defined in section 16-1, in the service area of said electric municipal utility; and (E) gas supply services until the date such services are competitive pursuant to legislative act or order of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, provided gas supply services shall be exempt from competitive bidding and competitive negotiation after said date if such services are provided by a gas municipal utility in the service area of said gas municipal utility.

(2) Any purchase of or contract by the department for electric generation services that are subject to competitive bidding and competitive negotiations shall be conducted in cooperation with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to section 16a-14e.

(f) The commissioner shall post any contract entered into under this section that has not been subject to competitive bidding or competitive negotiation on the Internet web site of the Department of Administrative Services, provided nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the disclosure of any information not required to be disclosed under subsection (b) of section 1-210.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to the award of janitorial or service contracts pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 4a-82.

(1949 Rev., S. 252; 1959, P.A. 258, S. 4; 1963, P.A. 208; 1967, P.A. 193; P.A. 77-291; 77-444, S. 2; 77-614, S. 93, 610; P.A. 80-208; P.A. 82-99, S. 2, 3; 82-285, S. 1, 3; P.A. 84-412, S. 2, 8; P.A. 86-256; 86-357, S. 2; P.A. 87-145, S. 1; P.A. 88-297, S. 4; P.A. 90-252, S. 2, 10; P.A. 94-72; 94-126, S. 4; P.A. 95-218, S. 14; 95-285, S. 3, 9; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9, S. 20, 50; P.A. 99-161, S. 2, 11; P.A. 06-129, S. 6; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 158; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 13-227, S. 2; P.A. 14-188, S. 13; P.A. 16-173, S. 1; P.A. 21-76, S. 12; P.A. 22-65, S. 1.)

History: 1959 act substituted “director” for “supervisor”; 1963 act added proviso for auction sales; 1967 act deleted requirement for submission of duplicate bids, changed estimated amount from $1,000 to $2,000 for public notice requirement in three daily papers in the state rather than previous requirement for publication in one paper in each county and permitted waiver of bids for minor expenditures; P.A. 77-291 changed estimated amount from $2,000 to $4,000 and amount included in waiver provision from $100 to $200 limit; P.A. 77-444 excluded gas, water, and electric light and power services from competitive bidding requirement; P.A. 77-614 replaced director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 80-208 changed estimated amount to $6,000 and waiver limit to $300 and required regulations for purchases not subject to bid requirements; P.A. 82-99 divided section into Subsecs. and granted authority to commissioner to purchase or contract for advertising space or time by means other than competitive bidding; P.A. 82-285 amended section to exempt purchases and contracts made in connection with emergency repairs to state facilities; P.A. 84-412 inserted provision concerning notice of requirements pursuant to Sec. 4-114a; P.A. 86-256 increased threshold for sealed bidding requirement from $6,000 to $7,500 and increased threshold for waiver of bidding requirements in minor nonrecurring and emergency purchases from $300 to $400; P.A. 86-357 added reference to purchases and contracts made pursuant to Sec. 4-23n re data processing equipment, programs and services; P.A. 87-145 inserted new Subsec. (b) re sale of personal property to municipalities and transit districts, relettered previously existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and made technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 88-297 amended Subsec. (a) to repeal exception from competitive bidding requirement for purchases and contracts made pursuant to Sec. 4-132(c) or 4-23n, to substitute “competitive bids” for “sealed bids” and to increase threshold for competitive bidding requirement from $7,500 to $10,000, amended Subsec. (c) to increase threshold for waiver of bidding requirement in case of minor nonrecurring and emergency purchases from $400 to $600, to authorize competitive negotiation for purchase or contract for data processing equipment, programs or services costing $20,000 or less or advertising space or time, and to require adoption of regulations re competitive negotiation and standards and procedures under which additional purchases may be made on limited basis under existing contracts and made technical changes; Sec. 4-112 transferred to Sec. 4a-57 in 1989; P.A. 90-252 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize obsolete, unserviceable or unusable personal property also to be sold at state-owned retail store and amended Subsec. (b) by allowing for rejection of all bids when property to be sold at public auction and by adding Subdiv. (2) re order of selling or disposing of property; P.A. 94-72 amended Subsec. (b)(1) by deleting provisions re competitive bids, offering property to municipalities, transit districts and the public at the same time, municipality or transit district which makes the highest bid and rejection of all bids, adding provision re price determined by commissioner or designee, changing reference from no municipality or transit district making a bid to no municipality or transit district purchasing property, and added Subsec. (d) re leasing of personal state property that has become obsolete, unserviceable or unusable; P.A. 94-126 amended Subsec. (c) by raising maximum amount of purchases for which competitive bidding may be waived from $600 to $1,000; P.A. 95-218 added Subsec. (e) re waiver of requirements of competitive bidding for alternative fuel vehicles; P.A. 95-285 amended Subsec. (a) by revising procedure for solicitation of competitive bids by commissioner and amended Subsec. (c) by repealing $20,000 limit on data processing equipment, programs or services that may be purchased by competitive negotiation, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-9 amended Subsec. (c) to repeal authority for commissioner to use competitive negotiation to purchase or contract for data processing equipment, programs or services, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-161 added competitive negotiation as a permissible method for purchases and contracts, revised the exemption for certain public utility services and moved the exemption from Subsec. (a) to a new Subsec. (e), amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re personal property that has become obsolete, unserviceable or unusable, increasing the threshold for publication of notices of planned purchases from $10,000 to $50,000 and requiring posting of such notices on the Internet, deleted Subsec. (b) re sale, donation or disposal of certain personal property, relettered portion of former Subsec. (c) re waiver as Subsec. (b) and amended relettered Subsec. (b) by increasing the maximum amount of purchases that can be waived from $1,000 to $10,000, deleted Subsec. (c)(1) re standards and part of(c)(2) re procedures, rewriting them as new Subdiv. (1) re standards and procedures and renumbering Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (2) and deleting “on a limited basis” from renumbered Subdiv. (2), deleted Subsec. (d) re property that has become obsolete, unserviceable or unusable, and relettered former Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (d), effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 06-129 added Subsec. (f) re janitorial contracts awarded pursuant to Sec. 4a-82(b) to (e), inclusive; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (a) to change notice requirement from inserting in 2 or more publications to posting on the State Contracting Portal and make technical changes, effective October 5, 2009; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (d) and “Department of Public Utility Control” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority” in Subsec. (e)(1), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-227 amended Subsec. (f) to replace reference to Sec. 4a-82(e) with reference to Sec. 4a-82(d); P.A. 14-188 amended Subsec. (f) to add reference to service contracts; P.A. 16-173 amended Subsec. (e)(2) by replacing “Office of Policy and Management” with “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective June 7, 2016; P.A. 21-76 amended Subsec. (b) by making a technical change and changing “and” to “or”, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-65 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to Subsec. (d) and added new Subsec. (f) re online posting of contracts entered into without competitive bidding or competitive negotiation and redesignated existing Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (g).

See Sec. 22a-194g re purchase of new product manufactured using any controlled substance.

Cited. 220 C. 689; 233 C. 254; Id., 281.

Sec. 4a-57a. Distribution of surplus state property. Lease of property to municipalities. (a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall administer a property distribution program for the disposition of usable property that a state agency deems surplus to its operating needs. If any such property cannot be transferred between state agencies and there is not an immediate need to remove the property from a state facility, the commissioner shall offer the property for sale to municipalities and transit districts. If no municipality or transit district purchases the property, the commissioner shall offer the property for sale to the public. If the commissioner is unable to sell the property to a municipality or transit district or the public, the commissioner may donate the property to a nonprofit organization. The commissioner may dispose of any property that is not transferred, sold or donated. The commissioner shall establish a process for notifying municipalities and nonprofit organizations of their eligibility to receive surplus property under this subsection.

(b) No surplus motor vehicle owned by the state that has been declared to be a constructive total loss pursuant to section 38a-353 shall be offered for sale at an auction conducted under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section to anyone other than any person, firm or corporation licensed in accordance with the provisions of section 14-52 or 14-67l. No surplus motor vehicle owned by the state which has a certificate of title stamped “SALVAGE PARTS ONLY” or which has ten or more major component parts damaged beyond repair shall be offered for sale at an auction conducted under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section to anyone other than any person, firm or corporation licensed in accordance with the provisions of section 14-67l.

(c) The state may lease to a municipality any personal state property that has become obsolete, unserviceable or unusable if the Commissioner of Administrative Services determines that: (1) An emergency situation exists in the municipality that could not be reasonably foreseen; (2) the municipality has no feasible alternative means of obtaining such property within a reasonable time; and (3) the lease would have a minimal fiscal and administrative impact on the state. Such lease shall be for not more than three months, unless extended for an additional three months by the commissioner. The municipality shall be solely liable for any damage to, or any damage or injury resulting from use of, such property and shall indemnify the state against all claims arising out of the use of such property.

(P.A. 96-176, S. 1; P.A. 97-236, S. 21; P.A. 99-161, S. 3, 11; P.A. 00-66, S. 11.)

History: P.A. 97-236 designated previously existing section as Subsec. (a) and added new Subsec. (b) concerning restrictions on the sale at auction of surplus motor vehicles owned by the state; P.A. 99-161 substituted new Subsec. (a) re surplus property distribution program for former Subsec. (a) re pilot surplus property program and added Subsec. (c) authorizing state to lease certain property to a municipality, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-66 made a technical change in Subsec. (b).

Sec. 4a-57b. Program to encourage bidding on state contracts by businesses which trade with African countries. The Commissioner of Administrative Services, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, may initiate a program under which they shall (1) identify Connecticut businesses which (A) trade with African countries with whom the United States has diplomatic relations and (B) provide goods or services which are required by the state and (2) encourage such Connecticut businesses to bid on such goods or services.

(P.A. 97-135, S. 3, 4.)

History: P.A. 97-135 effective July 1, 1997.

Sec. 4a-57c. Multiple criteria bids or proposals. Pilot program. Section 4a-57c is repealed, effective July 1, 2001.

(P.A. 99-161, S. 8, 11; P.A. 00-66, S. 12; P.A. 01-106, S. 5, 6.)

Sec. 4a-57d. Report re resident bidders. Program to increase state contract awards to resident bidders. (a) On or before January 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Labor Commissioner, the president of The University of Connecticut and the Commissioner of Transportation, or their designees, shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor. Such report shall include (1) an analysis of any law or economic factor that results in a resident bidder being at a disadvantage to a nonresident bidder in submitting the lowest responsible qualified bid, (2) the reason any enacted law designed to give preference to state citizens for employment on public works projects is not being enforced, and (3) recommendations for administrative or legislative action, within the confines of clause 3 of section 8 of article 1 of the United States Constitution, to increase the number of state contracts awarded to resident bidders through an in-state contract preference or otherwise.

(b) On or before July 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall develop and implement a program to increase the number of state contracts awarded to resident bidders through an in-state contract preference or other method selected by the commissioner, provided such program shall not violate clause 3 of section 8 of article 1 of the United States Constitution. In developing such program, the commissioner shall consider the findings contained in the report made in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.

(P.A. 11-229, S. 9; P.A. 13-247, S. 202.)

History: P.A. 11-229 effective July 13, 2011 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a), “Commissioner of Public Works” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Construction Services” to conform with changes made by P.A. 11-51, S. 90); P.A. 13-247 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Commissioner of Construction Services, effective July 1, 2013.

Sec. 4a-57e. Purchases of personal protective equipment. List of companies. Report. (a) As used in this section, (1) “personal protective equipment” means specialized clothing or equipment worn for protection against infectious disease, including, but not limited to, protective equipment for the eyes, face, head and extremities, protective clothing and protective shields and barriers, (2) “COVID-19” means the respiratory disease designated by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as coronavirus 2019, and any related mutation thereof recognized by the World Health Organization as a communicable respiratory disease, and (3) “state agency” means any office, department, board, council, commission, institution, constituent unit of the state system of higher education, technical education and career school or other agency in the executive, legislative or judicial branch of state government.

(b) Not later than October 1, 2021, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall (1) compile, and thereafter periodically update, a list of companies domiciled in this state that during the public health and civil preparedness emergencies declared by the Governor on March 10, 2020, under sections 19a-131a and 28-9 due to COVID-19 and any extension of such declarations, changed the company's business model to produce personal protective equipment to respond to COVID-19, and (2) post such list on the Internet web site of the Department of Administrative Services. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, on and after August 1, 2021, any state agency purchasing personal protective equipment shall make reasonable efforts to purchase not less than twenty-five per cent of such personal protective equipment from companies on such list. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if such equipment is not available for purchase from a company on such list or does not meet the requirements of the purchasing state agency.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to (1) require the purchase of personal protective equipment that is expired or that does not otherwise meet recognized industry standards, or (2) waive any applicable competitive bidding requirements for purchases of personal protective equipment.

(d) Not later than July 31, 2021, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, the most recent list compiled under subsection (b) of this section.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 190.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 effective June 23, 2021.

Sec. 4a-58. (Formerly Sec. 4-113). Standardization Committee. Waiver of bid or proposal requirement. (a) There shall continue to be a Standardization Committee, which shall consist of the Commissioner of Administrative Services, the Comptroller or his designee, the Treasurer or his designee, and such administrative heads of state departments or their authorized agents as are designated for that duty by the Governor.

(b) Whenever an emergency exists by reason of extraordinary conditions or contingencies that could not reasonably be foreseen and guarded against, or because of unusual trade or market conditions, the Commissioner of Administrative Services, or, in the case of purchases, leases and contracts for information systems, information technology personal property and telecommunication systems, the Chief Information Officer, may, if it is in the best interests of the state, waive the competitive bid or proposal requirements set forth in section 4a-57. If any such procurement is estimated to cost fifty thousand dollars or more, such waiver shall be subject to the approval of the Standardization Committee. A statement of all purchases made under the provisions of this section and, in the case of a contract, the contract shall be posted on the Internet web site of the Department of Administrative Services, provided nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the disclosure of any information not required to be disclosed under subsection (b) of section 1-210.

(March, 1950, S. 96d; 1959, P.A. 258, S. 5; P.A. 77-614, S. 95, 610; P.A. 80-279; P.A. 88-297, S. 5; P.A. 95-285, S. 4, 9; P.A. 99-161, S. 4, 11; P.A. 12-205, S. 5; P.A. 22-65, S. 2.)

History: 1959 act substituted “director of purchases” for “supervisor of purchases”; P.A. 77-614 replaced director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 80-279 excluded purchases of perishable goods from bid requirements; P.A. 88-297 added reference to competitive negotiation; Sec. 4-113 transferred to Sec. 4a-58 in 1989; P.A. 95-285 inserted provisions formerly codified in Sec. 4a-56 as Subsec. (a) and designated prior provisions as Subsec. (b) continuing the Standardization Committee, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-161 amended Subsec. (b) by transferring waiver authority re information systems, information technology personal property and telecommunication systems to the Chief Information Officer, repealing waiver authority re sales of perishable goods and repealing requirement of Standardization Committee approval for waivers for procurements of less than $50,000, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 12-205 amended Subsec. (b) to require statement of purchases to be posted on department's web site rather than in annual report, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 22-65 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re online posting of contracts entered into under section and add exception for information not required to be disclosed under Sec. 1-210(b).

Sec. 4a-59. (Formerly Sec. 4-114). Award of contracts. (a) As used in this section, (1) “lowest responsible qualified bidder” means the bidder whose bid is the lowest of those bidders possessing the skill, ability and integrity necessary to faithful performance of the work based on objective criteria considering past performance and financial responsibility, and (2) “highest scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid” means the bidder whose bid receives the highest score for a combination of attributes, including, but not limited to, price, skill, ability and integrity necessary for the faithful performance of the work, based on multiple criteria considering quality of product, warranty, life-cycle cost, past performance, financial responsibility and other objective criteria that are established in the bid solicitation for the contract.

(b) All bids and proposals submitted as provided in section 4a-57 shall be based on such standard specifications as may be adopted by the Commissioner of Administrative Services or the commissioner's designee. Bidders shall submit with their bids essential information concerning their qualifications, in such form as the commissioner may require by specification in the bid documents. The commissioner may, after adopting the regulations required by subdivision (11) of section 4a-52, waive minor irregularities in bids and proposals if the commissioner determines that such a waiver would be in the best interest of the state. The commissioner shall state the reasons for any such waiver in writing and include such statement in the contract file.

(c) All open market orders or contracts shall be awarded to (1) the lowest responsible qualified bidder, the qualities of the articles to be supplied, their conformity with the specifications, their suitability to the requirements of the state government and the delivery terms being taken into consideration and, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Administrative Services, life-cycle costs and trade-in or resale value of the articles may be considered where it appears to be in the best interest of the state, (2) the highest scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid, in accordance with the criteria set forth in the bid solicitation for the contract, or (3) the proposer whose proposal is deemed by the awarding authority to be the most advantageous to the state, in accordance with the criteria set forth in the request for proposals, including price and evaluation factors. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, each state agency awarding a contract through competitive negotiation shall include price as an explicit factor in the criteria in the request for proposals and for the contract award. In considering past performance of a bidder for the purpose of determining the “lowest responsible qualified bidder” or the “highest scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid”, the commissioner shall evaluate the skill, ability and integrity of the bidder in terms of the bidder's fulfillment of past contract obligations and the bidder's experience or lack of experience in delivering supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services of the size or amount for which bids have been solicited. In determining the lowest responsible qualified bidder for the purposes of this section, the commissioner may give a price preference of up to ten per cent for (A) the purchase of goods made with recycled materials or the purchase of recyclable or remanufactured products if the commissioner determines that such preference would promote recycling or remanufacturing. As used in this subsection, “recyclable” means able to be collected, separated or otherwise recovered from the solid waste stream for reuse, or for use in the manufacture or assembly of another package or product, by means of a recycling program which is reasonably available to at least seventy-five per cent of the state's population, “remanufactured” means restored to its original function and thereby diverted from the solid waste stream by retaining the bulk of components that have been used at least once and by replacing consumable components and “remanufacturing” means any process by which a product is remanufactured; (B) the purchase of motor vehicles powered by a clean alternative fuel; (C) the purchase of motor vehicles powered by fuel other than a clean alternative fuel and conversion equipment to convert such motor vehicles allowing the vehicles to be powered by either the exclusive use of clean alternative fuel or dual use of a clean alternative fuel and a fuel other than a clean alternative fuel. As used in this subsection, “clean alternative fuel” means natural gas, electricity, hydrogen or propane when used as a motor vehicle fuel; or (D) the purchase of goods or services from a micro business, except that, in the case of a veteran-owned micro business, the commissioner may give a price preference of up to fifteen per cent. As used in this subsection, “micro business” means a business with gross revenues not exceeding three million dollars in the most recently completed fiscal year, “veteran-owned micro business” means a micro business of which at least fifty-one per cent of the ownership is held by one or more veterans and “veteran” has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103. All other factors being equal, preference shall be given to supplies, materials and equipment produced, assembled or manufactured in the state and services originating and provided in the state. Except with regard to contracts that may be paid for with United States Department of Transportation funds, if any such bidder refuses to accept, within ten days, a contract awarded to such bidder, such contract may be awarded to the next lowest responsible qualified bidder or the next highest scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid, whichever is applicable, and so on until such contract is awarded and accepted. Except with regard to contracts that may be paid for with United States Department of Transportation funds, if any such proposer refuses to accept, within ten days, a contract awarded to such proposer, such contract shall be awarded to the next most advantageous proposer, and so on until the contract is awarded and accepted. There shall be a written evaluation made of each bid. This evaluation shall identify the vendors and their respective costs and prices, document the reason why any vendor is deemed to be nonresponsive and recommend a vendor for award. A contract valued at one million dollars or more shall be awarded to a bidder other than the lowest responsible qualified bidder or the highest scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid, whichever is applicable, only with written approval signed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services and by the Comptroller. The commissioner shall post on the department's Internet web site all awards made pursuant to the provisions of this section.

(d) When, in the opinion of the commissioner, the best interest of the state will be served thereby, the commissioner may order that any or all bids or proposals may be rejected. If all bids or proposals are so rejected, the commissioner shall advertise again for bids or proposals and such bids or proposals shall be opened, awarded and approved in like manner as provided in this section and section 4a-57. If all bids or proposals received on a pending contract are for the same unit price or total amount and no distinction can be made in favor of supplies, materials and equipment produced, assembled or manufactured in the state or services originating and provided in the state, the commissioner shall have authority to order the rejection of all bids or proposals and to order the purchase of the required supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services in the open market, provided the price paid in the open market shall not exceed the bid or proposal price.

(e) Each bid or proposal, with the name of the bidder, or proposer, shall be entered on a record, and each record, with the successful bid or proposal indicated thereon, shall, after the award of the order or contract, be open to public inspection. All contracts shall be approved as to form by the Attorney General and a copy of each contract shall be filed with the Comptroller.

(f) Not later than February 1, 2002, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, indicating the types of objective criteria that the commissioner may use in determining the highest scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid under this section. Said commissioner shall submit a report on said date, concerning the status of the adoption of said regulations by the commissioner, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to government administration.

(1949 Rev., S. 253; 1959, P.A. 258, S. 6; 1967, P.A. 139; P.A. 77-614, S. 96, 610; P.A. 88-18; 88-231, S. 2; 88-297, S. 6; P.A. 90-252, S. 3, 10; P.A. 91-57, S. 3; 91-179, S. 4, 5; P.A. 92-188, S. 3, 4; P.A. 94-126, S. 5; P.A. 95-285, S. 5, 9; P.A. 96-156, S. 2; P.A. 99-213, S. 3; P.A. 01-106, S. 3, 6; P.A. 09-184, S. 3; P.A. 12-205, S. 6; P.A. 14-136, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 157; P.A. 16-184, S. 1; P.A. 18-47, S. 2; P.A. 21-79, S. 3.)

History: 1959 act substituted “director of purchases” for “supervisor of purchases”; 1967 act allowed consideration of trade-in or resale value; P.A. 77-614 replaced director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 88-18 required preference to be given to in-state supplies, materials, equipment and services, if all other factors are equal; P.A. 88-231 added provision authorizing commissioner to give a price preference for goods made with recycled materials; P.A. 88-297 added provisions re proposals and proposers, authorized life-cycle costs to be considered in determining lowest responsible qualified bidder, and made technical changes; Sec. 4-114 transferred to Sec. 4a-59 in 1989; P.A. 90-252 divided section into Subsecs. adding provisions in Subsec. (a) defining “lowest responsible qualified bidder”, in Subsec. (b) requiring bidders to submit essential information re qualifications and authorizing commissioner to waive minor irregularities and in Subsec. (c) specifying procedure for considering past performance in determining “lowest responsible qualified bidder”; P.A. 91-57 made a technical change; P.A. 91-179 added new Subsecs. (C)(2) and (3) authorizing a price preference for the purchase of a motor vehicle powered by clean alternative fuel and authorizing a price preference for the purchase of conversion equipment; P.A. 92-188 amended Subsec. (c) authorizing a price preference for the purchase of a new motor vehicle or conversion equipment for a vehicle powered by electricity and replaced second set of numeric Subdiv. indicators with alphabetic indicators; P.A. 94-126 amended Subsec. (c) by specifying price and evaluation factors as criteria in Subdiv. (2) and adding provisions re written evaluation of each bid, award of contracts valued at $1,000,000 or more to bidder other than the lowest responsible qualified bidder and annual report of awards made; P.A. 95-285 substituted “Commissioner of Administrative Services or his designee” for “Standardization Committee” in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-156 amended Subsec. (c) to require state agencies to include price as a factor in the criteria in the request for proposals; P.A. 99-213 amended Subsec. (c) to authorize the commissioner to give price preferences in determining the lowest responsible qualified bidder for the purchase of recyclable or remanufactured products and to define the terms “recyclable”, “remanufactured” and “remanufacturing” and made technical changes; P.A. 01-106 amended Subsec. (a) by designating definition of “lowest responsible qualified bidder” as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) defining “highest scoring bidder in a multiple criteria bid”, made technical changes in Subsec. (b), amended Subsec. (c) by adding new Subdiv. (2) re multiple criteria bidding, renumbering former Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (3) and applying other provisions to multiple criteria bidding, made a technical change in Subsec. (d) and added Subsec. (f) requiring Commissioner of Administrative Services to adopt regulations re multiple criteria bidding, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 09-184 added Subsec. (c)(3)(D) re purchase of goods or services from micro businesses, effective July 1, 2009; P.A. 12-205 amended Subsec. (c) to make a technical change and to require awards to be posted on department's web site rather than in annual report, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 14-136 amended Subsec. (c) by adding “hydrogen or propane” to the definition of “clean alternative fuel”; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (c) by providing an exception from the 10-day deadline to accept a contract for contracts that may be paid for with United States Department of Transportation funds, effective June 30, 2015; P.A. 16-184 amended Subsec. (c)(D) to add provision re 15 per cent price preference exception for a veteran-owned micro business and to define “veteran-owned micro business”; P.A. 18-47 amended Subsec. (c)(D) to define “veteran”; P.A. 21-79 amended Subsec. (c) to redefine “veteran”.

Department may reject proposal if it deems such action is in best interests of state; department may consider, in addition to price, past performance of bidder, including skill, ability and integrity; such assessment includes some subjective analysis, which is a wholly permissible exercise of department's discretion and does not amount to favoritism. 93 CA 327.

Sec. 4a-59a. Restrictions on contract extensions. Exceptions. Explanation of reasons for noncompliance. (a) No state agency may extend a contract for the purchase of supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services which expires on or after October 1, 1990, and is subject to the competitive bidding requirements of subsection (a) of section 4a-57, without complying with such requirements, unless the Commissioner of Administrative Services makes a written determination, supported by documentation, that (1) soliciting competitive bids for such purchase would cause a hardship for the state, (2) such solicitation would result in a major increase in the cost of such supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services, or (3) the contractor is the sole source for such supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services. Except in the case where the contractor is the sole source as set forth in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the commissioner shall solicit at least three competitive quotations in addition to the contractor's quotation, and shall make a written determination that no such competitive quotation which complies with the existing specifications for the contract is lower than or equal to the contractor's quotation. Any such contract extension shall be based on the contractor's quotation. No contract may be extended more than two times under this section.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner of Administrative Services may, for a period of up to one year from the date such contract would otherwise expire, (1) extend any contract in effect on May 1, 2005, with a value of fifty thousand dollars or more per year, to perform any of the following services for the state: Janitorial, building maintenance, security and food and beverage, provided any such extension shall include any applicable increase in the standard wage and the payroll burden to administer the standard wage, as established by the Labor Department, or (2) extend an existing contract if the commissioner certifies in writing that failure to provide such extension would compromise the continuity of state agency systems or operations.

(c) If any contract is extended pursuant to this section without complying with the competitive bidding requirements of subsection (a) of section 4a-57, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall post the contract and an explanation of the reasons for such noncompliance on the Department of Administrative Services' Internet web site, provided nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require the disclosure of any information not required to be disclosed under subsection (b) of section 1-210.

(P.A. 90-252, S. 4, 10; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 71; P.A. 05-287, S. 23; P.A. 06-196, S. 31; P.A. 11-51, S. 48; P.A. 13-225, S. 2; P.A. 14-188, S. 1; P.A. 22-65, S. 3.)

History: May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2 added Subsec. (b) re extension of certain janitorial, building maintenance, security and food and beverage contracts for one year from expiration date and designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), making technical changes therein, effective May 12, 2004; P.A. 05-287 amended Subsec. (b) to enable both the Commissioner of Administrative Services and the Commissioner of Public Works to extend janitorial, building maintenance, security and food and beverage services contracts for a period of one year provided such contract was in effect as of May 1, 2005, has a value of $50,000 or more per year and any such extension includes applicable increases in the standard wage and the payroll burden to administer the standard wage, effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 11-51 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to Commissioner of Public Works, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-225 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdiv. (1), (2) and (3) designators, redesignating existing Subparas. (A), (B) and (C) as Subdivs. (1), (2) and (3) and adding exception to 3 competitive quotations requirement where contractor is the sole source, amended Subsec. (b) by changing period of extension from “one year” to “up to one year”, designating provision re extension of contract in effect on May 1, 2005, as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re written certification by commissioner, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-188 added Subsec. (c) re posting of explanation for noncompliance; P.A. 22-65 amended Subsec. (c) to add provision re online posting of contracts extended without competitive bidding and add exception for information not required to be disclosed under Sec. 1-210(b).

Sec. 4a-60. (Formerly Sec. 4-114a). Nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions in awarding agency, municipal public works and quasi-public agency project contracts. (a) Except as provided in section 10a-151i, every contract to which an awarding agency is a party, every quasi-public agency project contract and every municipal public works contract shall contain the following provisions:

(1) The contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the contract such contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, status as a veteran, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or of the state of Connecticut; and the contractor further agrees to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants with job-related qualifications are employed and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, status as a veteran, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved;

(2) The contractor agrees, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor, to state that it is an “affirmative action-equal opportunity employer” in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities;

(3) The contractor agrees to provide each labor union or representative of workers with which such contractor has a collective bargaining agreement or other contract or understanding and each vendor with which such contractor has a contract or understanding, a notice to be provided by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities advising the labor union or workers' representative of the contractor's commitments under this section, and to post copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment;

(4) The contractor agrees to comply with each provision of this section and sections 46a-68e and 46a-68f and with each regulation or relevant order issued by said commission pursuant to sections 46a-56, 46a-68e, 46a-68f and 46a-86; and

(5) The contractor agrees to provide the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities with such information requested by the commission, and permit access to pertinent books, records and accounts, concerning the employment practices and procedures of the contractor as relate to the provisions of this section and section 46a-56.

(b) If the contract is a public works contract, municipal public works contract or contract for a quasi-public agency project, the contractor agrees and warrants that he or she will make good faith efforts to employ minority business enterprises as subcontractors and suppliers of materials on such public works or quasi-public agency project.

(c) Except as provided in section 10a-151i:

(1) Any contractor who has one or more contracts with an awarding agency or who is a party to a municipal public works contract or a contract for a quasi-public agency project shall include a nondiscrimination affirmation provision certifying that the contractor understands the obligations of this section and will maintain a policy for the duration of the contract to assure that the contract will be performed in compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of subsection (a) of this section. The authorized signatory of the contract shall demonstrate his or her understanding of this obligation by (A) initialing the nondiscrimination affirmation provision in the body of the contract, (B) providing an affirmative response in the required online bid or response to a proposal question which asks if the contractor understands its obligations, or (C) signing the contract.

(2) No awarding agency, or in the case of a municipal public works contract, no municipality, or in the case of a quasi-public agency project contract, no entity, shall award a contract to a contractor that has not included the nondiscrimination affirmation provision in the contract and demonstrated its understanding of such provision as required under subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(d) For the purposes of this section, “contract” includes any extension or modification of the contract, “contractor” includes any successors or assigns of the contractor, “marital status” means being single, married as recognized by the state of Connecticut, widowed, separated or divorced, and “mental disability” means one or more mental disorders, as defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”, or a record of or regarding a person as having one or more such disorders. For the purposes of this section, “contract” does not include a contract where each contractor is (1) a political subdivision of the state, including, but not limited to, a municipality, unless the contract is a municipal public works contract or quasi-public agency project contract, (2) any other state, as defined in section 1-267, (3) the federal government, (4) a foreign government, or (5) an agency of a subdivision, state or government described in subdivision (1), (2), (3) or (4) of this subsection.

(e) For the purposes of this section, “minority business enterprise” means any small contractor or supplier of materials fifty-one per cent or more of the capital stock, if any, or assets of which is owned by a person or persons: (1) Who are active in the daily affairs of the enterprise, (2) who have the power to direct the management and policies of the enterprise, and (3) who are members of a minority, as such term is defined in subsection (a) of section 32-9n; and “good faith” means that degree of diligence which a reasonable person would exercise in the performance of legal duties and obligations. “Good faith efforts” shall include, but not be limited to, those reasonable initial efforts necessary to comply with statutory or regulatory requirements and additional or substituted efforts when it is determined that such initial efforts will not be sufficient to comply with such requirements.

(f) Determination of the contractor's good faith efforts shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following factors: The contractor's employment and subcontracting policies, patterns and practices; affirmative advertising, recruitment and training; technical assistance activities and such other reasonable activities or efforts as the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities may prescribe that are designed to ensure the participation of minority business enterprises in public works projects.

(g) The contractor shall develop and maintain adequate documentation, in a manner prescribed by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, of its good faith efforts.

(h) The contractor shall include the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section in every subcontract or purchase order entered into in order to fulfill any obligation of a contract with the state, and in every subcontract entered into in order to fulfill any obligation of a municipal public works contract or contract for a quasi-public agency project, and such provisions shall be binding on a subcontractor, vendor or manufacturer, unless exempted by regulations or orders of the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. The contractor shall take such action with respect to any such subcontract or purchase order as the commission may direct as a means of enforcing such provisions, including sanctions for noncompliance in accordance with section 46a-56; provided, if such contractor becomes involved in, or is threatened with, litigation with a subcontractor or vendor as a result of such direction by the commission regarding a state contract, the contractor may request the state of Connecticut to enter into any such litigation or negotiation prior thereto to protect the interests of the state and the state may so enter.

(February, 1965, P.A. 366, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 284; P.A. 73-279, S. 13; P.A. 74-68; P.A. 76-8; P.A. 78-148, S. 8; P.A. 82-358, S. 7, 10; P.A. 83-569, S. 8, 17; P.A. 84-412, S. 3, 8; 84-418; P.A. 88-351, S. 2, 16; P.A. 89-253, S. 2, 7; P.A. 07-142, S. 9; P.A. 09-158, S. 1; P.A. 11-55, S. 3; 11-129, S. 20; 11-229, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 63; P.A. 17-130, S. 7; P.A. 18-75, S. 2; P.A. 21-76, S. 6; P.A. 22-40, S. 5.)

History: 1967 act included contractor's agreement to supply information to civil rights commission; P.A. 73-279 prohibited discrimination on grounds of physical disability; P.A. 74-68 prohibited discrimination on grounds of sex; P.A. 76-8 replaced “religion” with “religious creed” and prohibited discrimination on grounds of age and marital status; P.A. 78-148 prohibited discrimination on grounds of mental retardation; P.A. 82-358 required that contractors for public works projects make good faith effort to employ minority enterprises as subcontractors and materials suppliers; P.A. 83-569 amended section to refer to Sec. 46a-56; P.A. 84-412 applied provisions to political subdivisions of the state other than a municipality and defined “minority business enterprise”; P.A. 84-418 added Subsecs. (b) to (e), inclusive, concerning determination of good faith and adoption of regulations; P.A. 88-351 revised section, substituting “provisions” for “clause”, adding “ancestry” adding provisions re affirmative action requirements and deleting former Subsec. (e) re regulations and added new Subsec. (e) re applicability of affirmative action requirements to subcontractors, vendors or manufacturers and involvement of state in litigation or negotiation involving contractor, effective April 1, 1989; Sec. 4-114a transferred to Sec. 4a-60 in 1989; P.A. 89-253 amended Subsec. (a) by moving provision re public works contracts to end of subsection, and changed references to Secs. 4a-62, 32-9e, 46a-56 and 46a-68b to 46a-68k to Sec. 46a-68e and 46a-68f, and amended Subsec. (e) by changing references to this section and Secs. 4a-62, 32-9e, 46a-56 and 46a-68b to 46a-68k, inclusive, to Sec. 46a-56; P.A. 07-142 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re contractor documentation supporting nondiscrimination agreement and warranty and defining “contract” and “contractor”, effective June 25, 2007; P.A. 09-158 inserted “mental disability” in Subsec. (a)(1), inserted Subsec. designators (b), (c) and (d) in existing Subsec. (a), amended said Subsec. (c) to insert Subdiv. designators (1) and (2), amended Subsec. (c)(1) to establish representations for contracts of less than $50,000 for each year, amended Subsec. (c)(2) requirements for documentation for contracts of $50,000 or more for any year, amended said Subsec. (d) to define “marital status” and “mental disability” and exclude certain contracts from applicability of section, redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) to (e) as Subsecs. (e) to (h), and made technical changes, effective June 30, 2009; P.A. 11-55 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to prohibit discrimination on grounds of gender identity or expression; pursuant to P.A. 11-129, “mental retardation” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “intellectual disability” in Subsec. (a)(1); P.A. 11-229 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to substitute “Any contractor who has one or more contracts with the state or a political subdivision of the state that is” for “Prior to entering into a contract”, to add reference to electronic representation and to require an updated representation no later than 30 days after any change, amended Subsec. (c)(2) to substitute “Any contractor who has one or more contracts with the state or a political subdivision of the state that is” for “Prior to entering into a contract” and added Subsec. (c)(3) re submission of representation or documentation; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) by replacing references to the state or political subdivision of the state with references to awarding agency, amended Subsecs. (a)(2), (a)(3) and (f) to (h) by changing “commission” to “Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities”, amended Subsec. (a)(4) by adding reference to Sec. 46a-86, amended Subsecs. (a) to (d) and (h) by adding references to municipal public works contracts and quasi-public agency project contracts, amended Subsec. (c) by adding references to commission re provision of representation or documentation, amended Subsec. (d) by deleting former Subdiv. (2) re quasi-public agency and redesignating existing Subdivs. (3) to (6) as Subdivs. (2) to (5), and made technical and conforming changes throughout; P.A. 17-130 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to add “Except as provided in section 10a-151i”, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 18-75 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by adding “status as a veteran” and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 21-76 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting provision re representation requirements for contracts valued less than $50,000 per year, adding provision re nondiscrimination affirmation provision in contract and adding Subparas. (A) and (B) re signatory demonstrating understanding in Subdiv. (1), deleting former Subdiv. (2) re documentation requirements for contracts valued at $50,000 or more, redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (2) and amending same by making technical and conforming changes, and deleting provisions re resubmittal and certification after initial submission of representation or documentation, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-40 amended Subsec. (c)(1) by adding Subpara. (C) re signing the contract and making conforming changes, effective July 1, 2022.

See Sec. 1-1f for definitions of “blind” and “physically disabled”.

See Sec. 1-1g for definition of “intellectual disability”.

See Sec. 46a-68b for definition of “public works contract”.

Sec. 4a-60a. Provisions re nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation required in awarding agency, municipal public works and quasi-public agency project contracts. (a) Except as provided in section 10a-151i, every contract to which an awarding agency is a party, every contract for a quasi-public agency project and every municipal public works contract shall contain the following provisions:

(1) The contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the contract such contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of sexual orientation, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or of the state of Connecticut, and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their sexual orientation;

(2) The contractor agrees to provide each labor union or representative of workers with which such contractor has a collective bargaining agreement or other contract or understanding and each vendor with which such contractor has a contract or understanding, a notice to be provided by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities advising the labor union or workers' representative of the contractor's commitments under this section, and to post copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment;

(3) The contractor agrees to comply with each provision of this section and with each regulation or relevant order issued by said commission pursuant to section 46a-56; and

(4) The contractor agrees to provide the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities with such information requested by the commission, and permit access to pertinent books, records and accounts, concerning the employment practices and procedures of the contractor which relate to the provisions of this section and section 46a-56.

(b) Except as provided in section 10a-151i:

(1) Any contractor who has one or more contracts with an awarding agency or who is a party to a municipal public works contract or a contract for a quasi-public agency project shall include a nondiscrimination affirmation provision in the contract certifying that the contractor understands the obligations of this section and will maintain a policy for the duration of the contract to assure that the contract will be performed in conformance with the nondiscrimination requirements of this section. The authorized signatory of the contract shall demonstrate his or her understanding of this obligation by either (A) initialing the nondiscrimination affirmation provision in the body of the contract, or (B) providing an affirmative response in the required online bid or response to a proposal question which asks if the contractor understands its obligations.

(2) No awarding agency, or in the case of a municipal public works contract, no municipality, or in the case of a quasi-public agency project contract, no entity, shall award a contract to a contractor who has not included the nondiscrimination affirmation provision in the contract and demonstrated its understanding of such provision as required under subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(c) For the purposes of this section, “contract” includes any extension or modification of the contract, and “contractor” includes any successors or assigns of the contractor. For the purposes of this section, “contract” does not include a contract where each contractor is (1) a political subdivision of the state, including, but not limited to, a municipality, unless the contract is a municipal public works contract or quasi-public agency project contract, (2) any other state, as defined in section 1-267, (3) the federal government, (4) a foreign government, or (5) an agency of a subdivision, state or government described in subdivision (1), (2), (3) or (4) of this subsection.

(d) The contractor shall include the provisions of subsection (a) of this section in every subcontract or purchase order entered into in order to fulfill any obligation of a contract with the state, and in every subcontract entered into in order to fulfill any obligation of a municipal public works contractor contract for a quasi-public agency project, and such provisions shall be binding on a subcontractor, vendor or manufacturer unless exempted by regulations or orders of the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. The contractor shall take such action with respect to any such subcontract or purchase order as the commission may direct as a means of enforcing such provisions, including sanctions for noncompliance in accordance with section 46a-56; provided, if such contractor becomes involved in, or is threatened with, litigation with a subcontractor or vendor as a result of such direction by the commission regarding a state contract, the contractor may request the state of Connecticut to enter into any such litigation or negotiation prior thereto to protect the interests of the state and the state may so enter.

(P.A. 91-58, S. 16; 91-407, S. 8, 42; P.A. 07-142, S. 10; P.A. 09-158, S. 2; P.A. 11-229, S. 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 64; P.A. 17-130, S. 8; P.A. 21-76, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 91-407 deleted references to Secs. 46a-68e and 46a-68f; P.A. 07-142 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re contractor documentation supporting nondiscrimination agreement and warranty and defining “contract” and “contractor”, effective June 25, 2007; P.A. 09-158 divided existing Subsec. (a) into Subsecs. (a) and (b), amended said Subsec. (b) by inserting Subdiv. designators (1), (2) and (3), amended Subsec. (b)(1) to establish representations for contracts of less than $50,000 for each year, amended Subsec. (b)(2) requirements for documentation for contracts of $50,000 or more for any year, amended Subsec. (b)(3) to exclude certain contracts from applicability of section, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), and made technical changes, effective June 30, 2009; P.A. 11-229 amended Subsecs. (b)(1) and (b)(2) to substitute “Any contractor who has one or more contracts with the state or a political subdivision of the state that is” for “Prior to entering into a contract”, added new Subsec. (b)(3) re requirements for representation or documentation and redesignated existing Subsec. (b)(3) as Subsec. (b)(4); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 added references to municipal public works contracts and quasi-public agency project contracts throughout, amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by replacing references to the state or political subdivision of the state with references to awarding agency, amended Subsec. (b) by adding references to commission re provision of representation or documentation, amended Subsec. (b)(4) by deleting former Subpara. (B) re quasi-public agency and redesignating existing Subparas. (C) to (F) as Subparas. (B) to (E), amended Subsec. (c) by changing “commission” to “Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities”, and made technical and conforming changes throughout; P.A. 17-130 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to add “Except as provided in section 10a-151i”, redesignated Subsec. (b)(4) re definitions as Subsec. (c) and amended same to redesignate Subparas. (A) to (E) as Subdivs. (1) to (5), redesignated Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d), and made a conforming change, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 21-76 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision re representation requirement for contracts valued less than $50,000 per year, adding provision re nondiscrimination affirmation provision in contract and adding Subparas. (A) and (B) re signatory demonstrating understanding in Subdiv. (1), deleting former Subdiv. (2) re documentation requirements for contracts valued at $50,000 or more, redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (2) and amending same by making technical and conforming changes, and deleting provisions re resubmittal and certification after initial submission of representation or documentation, effective July 1, 2021.

See Sec. 46a-68b for definition of “public works contract”.

Sec. 4a-60b. Reverse auctions. Use by contracting agencies authorized. (a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Reverse auction” means an on-line bidding process in which qualified bidders or qualified proposers, anonymous to each other, submit bids or proposals to provide goods, supplies or services pursuant to an invitation to bid or request for proposals;

(2) “Contracting agency” means a state agency with statutory authority to award contracts for goods, supplies or services, or a political subdivision of the state or school district; and

(3) “Services” does not include construction or construction-related services.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, whenever a contracting agency determines that the use of a reverse auction is advantageous to the contracting agency and will ensure a competitive contract award, the contracting agency may use a reverse auction to award a contract for goods, supplies or services, in accordance with any applicable requirement of the general statutes and policies of the contracting agency. The contracting agency may contract with a third party to prepare and manage any such reverse auction.

(P.A. 08-141, S. 1; P.A. 21-76, S. 13.)

History: P.A. 08-141 effective June 5, 2008; P.A. 21-76 amended Subsec. (a) by adding references to services in Subdivs. (1) and (2) and adding Subdiv. (3) defining “services” and amended Subsec. (b) by adding reference to services, effective July 1, 2021.

Secs. 4a-60c to 4a-60f. Reserved for future use.

Sec. 4a-60g. (Formerly Sec. 32-9e). Set-aside programs for small contractors and minority business enterprises. (a) As used in this section and sections 4a-60h to 4a-60j, inclusive, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Small contractor” means (A) any contractor, subcontractor, manufacturer, service company or corporation that (i) maintains its principal place of business in the state, and (ii) is registered as a small business in the federal database maintained by the United States General Services Administration, as required to do business with the federal government, or (B) any nonprofit corporation that (i) maintains its principal place of business in the state, (ii) had gross revenues not exceeding twenty million dollars in the most recently completed fiscal year prior to such application, and (iii) is independent.

(2) “Independent” means the viability of the enterprise of the small contractor does not depend upon another person, as determined by an analysis of the small contractor's relationship with any other person in regards to the provision of personnel, facilities, equipment, other resources and financial support, including bonding.

(3) “State agency” means each state board, commission, department, office, institution, council or other agency with the power to contract for goods or services itself or through its head.

(4) “Minority business enterprise” means any small contractor (A) fifty-one per cent or more of the capital stock, if any, or assets of which are owned by a person or persons who (i) exercise operational authority over the daily affairs of the enterprise, (ii) have the power to direct the management and policies and receive the beneficial interest of the enterprise, (iii) possess managerial and technical competence and experience directly related to the principal business activities of the enterprise, and (iv) are members of a minority, as such term is defined in subsection (a) of section 32-9n, or are individuals with a disability, or (B) which is a nonprofit corporation in which fifty-one per cent or more of the persons who (i) exercise operational authority over the enterprise, (ii) possess managerial and technical competence and experience directly related to the principal business activities of the enterprise, (iii) have the power to direct the management and policies of the enterprise, and (iv) are members of a minority, as defined in this subsection, or are individuals with a disability.

(5) “Affiliated” means the relationship in which a person directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with another person.

(6) “Control” means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of any person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or through any other direct or indirect means. Control shall be presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing, twenty per cent or more of any voting securities of another person.

(7) “Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint stock company, business trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.

(8) “Individual with a disability” means an individual (A) having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual, which mental impairment may include, but is not limited to, having one or more mental disorders, as defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”, or (B) having a record of such an impairment.

(9) “Nonprofit corporation” means a nonstock corporation incorporated pursuant to chapter 602 or any predecessor statutes thereto, which is exempt from taxation under any provision of section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time.

(10) “Municipality” means any town, city, borough, consolidated town and city or consolidated town and borough.

(11) “Quasi-public agency” has the same meaning as provided in section 1-120.

(12) “Awarding agency” means a state agency or political subdivision of the state other than a municipality.

(13) “Public works contract” has the same meaning as provided in section 46a-68b.

(14) “Municipal public works contract” means that portion of an agreement entered into on or after October 1, 2015, between any individual, firm or corporation and a municipality for the construction, rehabilitation, conversion, extension, demolition or repair of a public building, highway or other changes or improvements in real property, which is financed in whole or in part by the state, including, but not limited to, matching expenditures, grants, loans, insurance or guarantees but excluding any project of an alliance district, as defined in section 10-262u, financed by state funding in an amount equal to fifty thousand dollars or less.

(15) “Quasi-public agency project” means the construction, rehabilitation, conversion, extension, demolition or repair of a building or other changes or improvements in real property pursuant to a contract entered into on or after October 1, 2015, which is financed in whole or in part by a quasi-public agency using state funds, including, but not limited to, matching expenditures, grants, loans, insurance or guarantees.

(b) (1) It is found and determined that there is a serious need to help small contractors, minority business enterprises, nonprofit organizations and individuals with disabilities to be considered for and awarded state contracts for the purchase of goods and services, public works contracts, municipal public works contracts and contracts for quasi-public agency projects. Accordingly, the necessity of awarding such contracts in compliance with the provisions of this section, sections 4a-60h to 4a-60j, inclusive, and sections 32-9i to 32-9p, inclusive, for advancement of the public benefit and good, is declared as a matter of legislative determination.

(2) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general statutes, and except as set forth in this section, the head of each awarding agency shall set aside in each fiscal year, for award to small contractors, on the basis of competitive bidding procedures, contracts or portions of contracts for the construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of public buildings, the construction and maintenance of highways and the purchase of goods and services. The total value of such contracts or portions thereof to be set aside by each such agency shall be at least twenty-five per cent of the total value of all contracts let by the head of such agency in each fiscal year, provided a contract for any goods or services which have been determined by the Commissioner of Administrative Services to be not customarily available from or supplied by small contractors shall not be included. Contracts or portions thereof having a value of not less than twenty-five per cent of the total value of all contracts or portions thereof to be set aside shall be reserved for awards to minority business enterprises.

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, and except as provided in this section, on and after October 1, 2015, each municipality when awarding a municipal public works contract shall state in its notice of solicitation for competitive bids or request for proposals or qualifications for such contract that the general or trade contractor shall be required to comply with the provisions of this section and the requirements concerning nondiscrimination and affirmative action under sections 4a-60 and 4a-60a. Any such contractor awarded a municipal public works contract shall, on the basis of competitive bidding procedures, (A) set aside at least twenty-five per cent of the total value of the state's financial assistance for such contract for award to subcontractors who are small contractors, and (B) of that portion to be set aside in accordance with subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, reserve a portion equivalent to twenty-five per cent of the total value of the contract or portion thereof to be set aside for awards to subcontractors who are minority business enterprises. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any municipality that has established a set-aside program pursuant to section 7-148u where the percentage of contracts set aside for minority business enterprises is equivalent to or exceeds the percentage set forth in this subsection.

(4) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, and except as provided in this section, on and after October 1, 2015, any individual, firm or corporation that enters into a contract for a quasi-public agency project shall, prior to awarding such contract, notify the contractor to be awarded such project of the requirements of this section and the requirements concerning nondiscrimination and affirmative action under sections 4a-60 and 4a-60a. Any such contractor awarded a contract for a quasi-public agency project shall, on the basis of competitive bidding procedures, (A) set aside at least twenty-five per cent of the total value of the state's financial assistance for such contract for award to subcontractors who are small contractors, and (B) of that portion to be set aside in accordance with subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, reserve a portion equivalent to twenty-five per cent of the total value of the contract or portions thereof to be set aside for awards to subcontractors who are minority business enterprises.

(5) Eligibility of nonprofit corporations under the provisions of this section shall be limited to predevelopment contracts awarded by the Commissioner of Housing for housing projects.

(6) In calculating the percentage of contracts to be set aside under subdivisions (2) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection, the awarding agency or contractor shall exclude any contract that may not be set aside due to a conflict with a federal law or regulation.

(c) The head of any awarding agency may, in lieu of setting aside any contract or portions thereof, require any general or trade contractor or any other entity authorized by such agency to award contracts, to set aside a portion of any contract for subcontractors who are eligible for set-aside contracts under this section. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to diminish the total value of contracts which are required to be set aside by any awarding agency pursuant to this section.

(d) The head of each awarding agency shall notify the Commissioner of Administrative Services of all contracts to be set aside pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (b) or subsection (c) of this section at the time that bid documents for such contracts are made available to potential contractors.

(e) The awarding authority shall require that a contractor or subcontractor awarded a contract or a portion of a contract under this section perform not less than thirty per cent of the work with the workforces of such contractor or subcontractor and shall require that not less than fifty per cent of the work be performed by contractors or subcontractors eligible for awards under this section. A contractor awarded a contract or a portion of a contract under this section shall not subcontract with any person with whom the contractor is affiliated. No person who is affiliated with another person shall be eligible for awards under this section if both affiliated persons considered together would not qualify as a small contractor or a minority business enterprise under subsection (a) of this section. The awarding authority shall require that a contractor awarded a contract pursuant to this section submit, in writing, an explanation of any subcontract to such contract that is entered into with any person that is not eligible for the award of a contract pursuant to this section, prior to the performance of any work pursuant to such subcontract.

(f) The awarding authority may require that a contractor or subcontractor awarded a contract or a portion of a contract under this section furnish the following documentation: (1) A copy of the certificate of incorporation, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement or other organizational documents of the contractor or subcontractor; (2) a copy of federal income tax returns filed by the contractor or subcontractor for the previous year; (3) evidence of payment of fair market value for the purchase or lease by the contractor or subcontractor of property or equipment from another contractor who is not eligible for set-aside contracts under this section; (4) evidence that the principal place of business of the contractor or subcontractor is located in the state; and (5) for any contractor or subcontractor certified under subsection (k) of this section on or after October 1, 2021, evidence of registration as a small business in the federal database maintained by the United States General Services Administration, as required to do business with the federal government.

(g) The awarding authority or the Commissioner of Administrative Services or the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities may conduct an audit of the financial, corporate and business records and conduct an investigation of any small contractor or minority business enterprise which applies for or is awarded a set-aside contract for the purpose of determining eligibility for awards or compliance with the requirements established under this section.

(h) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) any awarding agency for which the total value of all contracts or portions of contracts of the types enumerated in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section is anticipated to be equal to ten thousand dollars or less, or (2) any municipal public works contract or contract for a quasi-public agency project for which the total value of the contract is anticipated to be equal to fifty thousand dollars or less.

(i) In lieu of a performance, bid, labor and materials or other required bond, a contractor or subcontractor awarded a contract under this section may provide to the awarding authority, and the awarding authority shall accept a letter of credit. Any such letter of credit shall be in an amount equal to ten per cent of the contract for any contract that is less than one hundred thousand dollars and in an amount equal to twenty-five per cent of the contract for any contract that exceeds one hundred thousand dollars.

(j) (1) Whenever the awarding agency has reason to believe that any contractor or subcontractor awarded a state set-aside contract has wilfully violated any provision of this section, the awarding agency shall send a notice to such contractor or subcontractor by certified mail, return receipt requested. Such notice shall include: (A) A reference to the provision alleged to be violated; (B) a short and plain statement of the matter asserted; (C) the maximum civil penalty that may be imposed for such violation; and (D) the time and place for the hearing. Such hearing shall be fixed for a date not earlier than fourteen days after the notice is mailed. The awarding agency shall send a copy of such notice to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

(2) The awarding agency shall hold a hearing on the violation asserted unless such contractor or subcontractor fails to appear. The hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. If, after the hearing, the awarding agency finds that the contractor or subcontractor has wilfully violated any provision of this section, the awarding agency shall suspend all set-aside contract payments to the contractor or subcontractor and may, in its discretion, order that a civil penalty not exceeding ten thousand dollars per violation be imposed on the contractor or subcontractor. If such contractor or subcontractor fails to appear for the hearing, the awarding agency may, as the facts require, order that a civil penalty not exceeding ten thousand dollars per violation be imposed on the contractor or subcontractor. The awarding agency shall send a copy of any order issued pursuant to this subsection by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the contractor or subcontractor named in such order. The awarding agency may cause proceedings to be instituted by the Attorney General for the enforcement of any order imposing a civil penalty issued under this subsection.

(k) (1) On or before January 1, 2000, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall establish a process for certification of small contractors and minority business enterprises as eligible for set-aside contracts. Each certification shall be valid for a period not to exceed two years, unless the Commissioner of Administrative Services determines that an extension of such certification is warranted, provided any such extension shall not exceed a period of six months from such certification's original expiration date. Any certification issued prior to October 1, 2021, shall remain valid for the term listed on such certification unless revoked pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. The Department of Administrative Services shall maintain on its web site an updated directory of small contractors and minority business enterprises certified under this section.

(2) The Commissioner of Administrative Services may deny an application for the initial issuance or renewal of such certification after issuing a written decision to the applicant setting forth the basis for such denial. The commissioner may revoke such certification for cause after notice and an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. Any person aggrieved by the commissioner's decision to deny the issuance or renewal of or to revoke such certification may appeal such decision to the Superior Court, in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.

(3) Whenever the Commissioner of Administrative Services has reason to believe that a small contractor or minority business enterprise who has applied for or received certification under this section has included a materially false statement in his or her application, the commissioner may impose a penalty not exceeding ten thousand dollars after notice and a hearing held in accordance with chapter 54. Such notice shall include (A) a reference to the statement or statements contained in the application alleged to be false, (B) the maximum civil penalty that may be imposed for such misrepresentation, and (C) the time and place of the hearing. Such hearing shall be fixed for a date not later than fourteen days from the date such notice is sent. The commissioner shall send a copy of such notice to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

(4) The commissioner shall hold a hearing prior to such revocation or denial or the imposition of a penalty, unless such contractor or subcontractor fails to appear. If, after the hearing, the commissioner finds that the contractor or subcontractor has wilfully included a materially false statement in his or her application for certification under this subsection, the commissioner shall revoke or deny the certification and may order that a civil penalty not exceeding ten thousand dollars be imposed on the contractor or subcontractor. If such contractor or subcontractor fails to appear for the hearing, the commissioner may, as the facts require, revoke or deny the certification and order that a civil penalty not exceeding ten thousand dollars be imposed on the contractor or subcontractor. The commissioner shall send a copy of any order issued pursuant to this subsection to the contractor or subcontractor named in such order. The commissioner may cause proceedings to be instituted by the Attorney General for the enforcement of any order imposing a civil penalty issued under this subsection.

(l) On or before August thirtieth of each year, each awarding agency setting aside contracts or portions of contracts under subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section shall prepare a report establishing small and minority business state set-aside program goals for the twelve-month period beginning July first in the same year. Each such report shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Administrative Services, the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the cochairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to planning and development and government administration.

(m) On or before November first of each year and on a quarterly basis thereafter, each awarding agency setting aside contracts or portions of contracts under subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section shall prepare a status report on the implementation and results of its small business and minority business enterprise state set-aside program goals during the three-month period ending one month before the due date for the report. Each report shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Administrative Services and the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. Any awarding agency that achieves less than fifty per cent of its small contractor and minority business enterprise state set-aside program goals by the end of the second reporting period in any twelve-month period beginning on July first shall provide a written explanation to the Commissioner of Administrative Services and the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities detailing how the awarding agency will achieve its goals in the final reporting period. The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities shall: (1) Monitor the achievement of the annual goals established by each awarding agency; and (2) prepare a quarterly report concerning such goal achievement. The report shall be submitted to each awarding agency that submitted a report, the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, the Commissioner of Administrative Services and the cochairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to planning and development and government administration. Failure by any awarding agency to submit any reports required by this section shall be a violation of section 46a-77.

(n) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to the janitorial or service contracts awarded pursuant to subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 4a-82.

(o) The Commissioner of Administrative Services may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section.

(P.A. 76-185, S. 1; P.A. 77-425, S. 1; 77-614, S. 73, 135, 284, 587, 610; P.A. 79-631, S. 11, 111; P.A. 82-358, S. 3, 10; P.A. 83-390, S. 1; P.A. 84-412, S. 7, 8; P.A. 85-364; 85-370, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-577, S. 1, 5; P.A. 88-351, S. 11, 16; P.A. 90-253, S. 1, 4; P.A. 92-189, S. 2; P.A. 93-359; 93-409, S. 1; P.A. 95-79, S. 119, 189; 95-250, S. 1; 95-334, S. 6–8, 13; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; 96-256, S. 187, 209; P.A. 99-233, S. 1, 7; P.A. 00-199, S. 1, 3; P.A. 01-195, S. 101–103, 181; P.A. 06-129, S. 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 65, 66; P.A. 09-158, S. 3; P.A. 11-229, S. 7; P.A. 13-227, S. 3; 13-234, S. 10; 13-304, S. 1; P.A. 14-188, S. 11; 14-227, S. 5; P.A. 15-73, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 58–61, 88; P.A. 17-243, S. 5; P.A. 19-117, S. 348; P.A. 21-76, S. 8–11.)

History: P.A. 77-425 replaced references to “departments” with references to “commissioners” throughout section and included director of purchases, amended Subsec. (a) to add exception re conflict with federal law to make set-aside duty mandatory rather than optional, to include contracts for purchase of supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services, to specify minimum set-aside percentage of 15% and to clarify method of calculation and amended Subsec. (c) to change contract value limit from $250,000 to $500,000 and to substitute “fiscal” for “calendar” year; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of public works and director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services and, effective January 1, 1979, replaced commissioner of commerce with commissioner of economic development; P.A. 79-631 substituted reference to Sec. 32-23o for reference to Sec. 8-168(e) in Subsec. (e); P.A. 82-358 amended Subsec. (b) to require that contracts or portions of them valued at 25% of the total contract value be reserved for minority business enterprises; P.A. 83-390 added new Subsec. (a) containing definitions and amended Subsecs. (b) to (d), inclusive, relative to procedures and limits of set aside program; P.A. 84-412 included political subdivisions of the state other than municipalities, amended Subsec. (b) to read “the head of each state agency” rather than “the heads of all state agencies,” inserted Subsec. (c) concerning set asides by general contractors and Subsec. (f) concerning an exemption for certain agencies and political subdivisions, relettering previously existing Subsecs. as necessary; P.A. 85-364 inserted new Subsec. (f) awarding authority to require a contractor or subcontractor to perform not less than 15% of the work with his own forces and requiring at least 25% of the work to be performed by contractors or subcontractors, relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly; P.A. 85-370 amended Subsec. (b) to insert provision allowing set-aside based on current year if average presents an extremely high or low range; P.A. 87-577 amended Subsec. (a) by adding subparagraph lettering, substituting $3,000,000 for $1,500,000 and adding requirement that at least 51% ownership be held by persons active in the affairs of the business in the definition of “small contractor” and redefining “minority business enterprise” to delete requirements that majority holder of stock or assets be active in daily affairs of the enterprise and have power to direct management and policies of enterprise, amended Subsec. (e) by substituting $1,500,000 for $750,000, amended Subsec. (f) by making mandatory the requirement that party awarded contract perform not less than 15% of work with own forces and added prohibition on subcontracting with business having interlocking ownership, management or employees, redesignated existing Subsec. (g) as Subsec. (i) and added new Subsecs. (g), (h) and (j) re required documentation, audits and procedures and penalties when section provisions are violated; P.A. 88-351 redefined “minority business enterprise” to require minority owners to be active in daily affairs of enterprise and to have power to direct management and policies, required total value of set-aside contracts to be at least 25% of average of total value of all contracts, deleting prior minimum of 15% in Subsec. (b), amended Subsec. (c) to specify applicability to “trade” contractor “or other entity authorized by such agency to award contracts”, and amended Subsec. (b) to permit commission on human rights and opportunities to conduct audit of financial records; P.A. 90-253 amended Subsec. (a) by adding definitions of “affiliated”, “control” and “person”, amended Subsec. (f) by deleting provisions re interlocking ownership, management or employees and adding provisions re subcontracting with affiliates and eligibility of affiliated persons for contract awards, and amended Subsec. (h) by adding provisions re audit of corporate and business records and investigations; P.A. 92-189 amended Subsec. (a) by adding any small contractor “who is an individual with a disability” to definition of “minority business enterprise” in Subdiv. (3) and adding Subdiv. (7) defining “individual with a disability”; P.A. 93-359 amended Subsec. (a) to redefine “small contractor” and “minority business enterprise” to include certain nonprofit corporations and to add a definition of “nonprofit corporation” and amended Subsec. (b) to limit eligibility of nonprofit corporations to predevelopment contracts awarded by the commissioner of housing; P.A. 93-409 redefined “small contractor” to raise maximum gross revenues from $3,000,000 to $10,000,000, amended Subsec. (e) by increasing the maximum contract award from $1,500,000 to $10,000,000, inserted new Subsec. (j) concerning a letter of credit, relettering former Subsec. (j) as (k), and added new Subsecs. (l) to (n), inclusive, re establishment by economic development commissioner of a certification process, re annual reports and re status reports, respectively; P.A. 95-79 amended Subsec. (a) to redefine “person” to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development and Commissioner and Department of Housing with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 95-334 amended Subsec. (a) to redefine “small contractor” by inserting “under the same ownership and management” and “immediately”, amended Subsec. (j) by inserting reference to “bid, labor and materials or other required” bonds, amended Subsec. (m) by changing reporting deadline from July first to September thirtieth, annually, and amended Subsec. (n) by changing reporting deadline from October first to November first, quarterly, and requiring that reports be submitted to Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, effective July 13, 1995; P.A. 96-256 amended definition of “nonprofit corporation” in Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to “chapter 600” with “chapter 602 or any predecessor statutes thereto”, effective January 1, 1997; P.A. 99-233 amended Subsec. (a)(1) and (3) to revise the definition of “small contractor” and “minority business enterprise” to include a business where at least 51% is owned by persons with operational authority over daily affairs instead of owned by persons active in daily affairs, amended Subsec. (b) to add provisions re serious need, amended Subsecs. (d), (e) and (h) to transfer authority from the Department of Economic and Community Development to the Department of Administrative Services, amended Subsec. (l) to require the Department of Administrative Services to establish a process for certification and added new Subsec. (o) concerning a precertification list, effective June 29, 1999; P.A. 00-199 amended Subsecs. (b)(2), (m) and (n) by replacing references to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development with references to Commissioner of Administrative Services, and further amended Subsec. (m) by adding reference to the committee on government administration and elections, and further amended Subsec. (n) by requiring that the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities monitor the achievement of the annual goals established by each state agency and political subdivision of the state other than municipalities and prepare a quarterly report concerning such goal achievement, and by requiring that the report be submitted to each agency submitting a report and to the Commissioners of Economic and Community Development and Administrative Services, and providing that failure to submit reports shall be a violation of Sec. 46a-77, effective June 1, 2000; Sec. 32-9e transferred to Sec. 4a-60g in 2001; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a)(3), (a)(5) and (j), effective July 11, 2001; P.A. 06-129 added Subsec. (p) re janitorial contracts awarded pursuant to Sec. 4a-82(b) to (e), inclusive; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 redefined “small contractor” in Subsec. (a)(1) and “individual with a disability” in Subsec. (a)(7), amended Subsec. (b) to eliminate provision re ability of agency head to set aside an amount based on the amount of all contracts not excluded from the calculation which are anticipated to be let in any fiscal year, deleted former Subsec. (e) re limitation on total amount of contract recommended or awarded, redesignated existing Subsecs. (f) to (p) as Subsecs. (e) to (o), amended Subsec. (e) to require written explanation of any subcontract entered into with a person not eligible for award of a contract under section, amended Subsec. (j) re duties of awarding authority, amended Subsec. (k) to replace provisions re printed directory and quarterly update with provision re updated directory maintained on web site, amended Subsec. (l) to replace “September 30, 1995,” with “August 30, 2007,” amended Subsec. (m) to require written explanation of how an agency will achieve its goals in the final reporting period if not reached by the end of the second reporting period and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2007, and further redefined “small contractor” in Subsec. (a)(1) to increase gross revenues under Subpara. (B) from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000, effective January 1, 2008; P.A. 09-158 redefined “individual with a disability” in Subsec. (a)(7), effective June 30, 2009; P.A. 11-229 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to redefine “small contractor”, deleted former Subsec. (n) re precertification list and redesignated existing Subsec. (o) as Subsec. (n); P.A. 13-227 amended Subsec. (n) to delete “four” re janitorial contracts and replace reference to Sec. 4a-82(e) with reference to Sec. 4a-82(d); P.A. 13-234 amended Subsec. (b) to replace reference to Commissioner of Economic and Community Development with reference to Commissioner of Housing, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-304 amended Subsec. (a) to redefine “small contractor” in Subdiv. (1), to add new Subdiv. (2) defining “independent”, to redesignate existing Subdivs. (2) to (8) as Subdivs. (3) to (9) and to redefine “minority business enterprise” in redesignated Subdiv. (4), amended Subsec. (e) to increase requirements for contract performance from 15 per cent to 30 per cent and from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, amended Subsec. (k) to designate existing provisions re process for certification as Subdiv. (1) and to add Subdivs. (2), (3) and (4) re revocation of certification, penalty for materially false statement, and hearing prior to revocation and denial or imposition of penalty, respectively, and added Subsec. (o) re regulations for implementation (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (k)(3), a reference to “Commission on Human Rights” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities” for accuracy); P.A. 14-188 amended Subsec. (n) to add reference to service contracts; P.A. 14-227 amended Subsec. (k)(2) to add provisions allowing commissioner, in addition to revoking certification, to deny an application for initial issuance or renewal of certification; P.A. 15-73 amended Subsec. (k)(1) to permit commissioner to extend certification for not more than 6 months from expiration date, effective July 1, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdivs. (10) to (15) defining “municipality”, “quasi-public agency”, “awarding agency”, “public works contract”, “municipal public works contract” and “quasi-public agency project”, amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provisions re legislative determination as new Subdiv. (1) and amending same by replacing reference to construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of public buildings and the construction and maintenance of highways with reference to public works contracts, municipal public works contracts and contracts for quasi-public agency projects, deleting reference to public interest, adding reference to advancement of public benefit and good, designating existing provisions re set asides as new Subdiv. (2) and amending same by deleting provisions re eligibility of nonprofit corporations and contract that may not be set aside, deleting former Subdiv. designators (1) and (2), adding Subdiv. (3) re municipal public works contracts, adding Subdiv. (4) re quasi-public agency project contracts, adding Subdiv. (5) re eligibility of nonprofit corporations, and adding Subdiv. (6) re calculation of percentage of contracts to be set aside, amended Subsecs. (c), (h), (l) and (m) by changing “state agency” to “awarding agency” and deleting references to political subdivision of the state other than a municipality, amended Subsec. (d) by replacing reference to heads of state agencies and political subdivision of the state other than a municipality with heads of awarding agencies and changing reference from Subsec. (b) to Subsec. (b)(2), amended Subsec. (h) by designating existing provision as Subdiv. (1), adding Subdiv. (2) re municipal public works and quasi-public agency project contracts and changing reference from Subsec. (b) to Subsec. (b)(2), amended Subsec. (j) by changing “awarding authority” to “awarding agency”, and, in Subdiv. (1), adding “state” re “set-aside”, amended Subsec. (l) by replacing “August 30, 2007, and annually thereafter” with “August first of each year”, adding reference to Subsec. (b)(2), adding “state” re “set-aside” and deleting “and elections.”, amended Subsec. (m) by replacing “November 1, 1995, and” with “November first of each year and on a”, adding reference to Subsec. (b)(2), adding “state” re “set-aside” and deleting “and elections.”, and made technical changes, effective October 1, 2015, and amended Subsec. (a)(11) by redefining “quasi-public agency”, effective January 1, 2016; P.A. 17-243 amended Subsec. (l) to replace “August first” with “August thirtieth”, effective July 11, 2017; P.A. 19-117 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by redefining “small contractor”; P.A. 21-76 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “small contractor” in Subdiv. (1) and redefining “nonprofit corporation” in Subdiv. (9), effective October 1, 2021, and applicable to certifications issued or renewed on or after said date, amended Subsec. (f) by adding Subdiv. (4) re being located in the state and Subdiv. (5) re registration in federal database and amended Subsec. (k)(1) by deleting maximum length of 6 pages for paper applications for certifications and adding provision re term of validity of certifications issued prior to October 1, 2021.

Sec. 4a-60h. (Formerly Sec. 32-9f). Administration of state set-aside program. Administration of set-aside program for municipal public works and quasi-public agency project contracts. Regulations. (a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall be responsible for the administration of the set-aside program for public works contracts and state contracts for goods and services, as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 4a-60g. The commissioner shall conduct regular training sessions, as often as the commissioner deems necessary, for state agencies to explain the state set-aside program and to specify the factors that must be addressed in calculating awarding agency goals under the program. The commissioner shall conduct informational workshops to inform businesses of state set-aside opportunities and responsibilities.

(b) The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities shall be responsible for the administration of the set-aside program for municipal public works contracts and contracts for quasi-public agency projects, as described in subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (b) of section 4a-60g. The commission shall conduct regular training sessions, as often as the commission deems necessary, for municipalities, quasi-public agencies and contractors to explain the municipal and quasi-public agency project set-aside program. The commission may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of sections 4a-60g to 4a-60j, inclusive, in regard to the municipal and quasi-public agency project set-aside program.

(c) In any case where an individual contract is both a public works contract of an awarding agency and a quasi-public agency project contract, the provisions of this chapter governing awarding agency public works contracts shall apply to such contract.

(d) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of sections 4a-60g to 4a-60j, inclusive, in regard to the state set-aside program. Such regulations shall include (1) provisions concerning the application of the program to individuals with a disability; (2) guidelines for a legally acceptable format for, and content of, letters of credit authorized under subsection (j) of section 4a-60g; (3) procedures for random site visits to the place of business of an applicant for certification at the time of application and at subsequent times, as necessary, to ensure the integrity of the application process; and (4) time limits for approval or disapproval of applications.

(e) On or before January 1, 1994, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall, by regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54, establish a process to ensure that small contractors, small businesses and minority business enterprises have fair access to all competitive state contracts outside of the state set-aside program.

(P.A. 76-185, S. 2; P.A. 77-425, S. 3; 77-614, S. 284, 610; P.A. 92-189, S. 3; P.A. 93-409, S. 2; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; 95-334, S. 9, 13; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 99-233, S. 2, 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 62.)

History: P.A. 77-425 replaced department of commerce with commissioner of commerce; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of commerce with commissioner of economic development, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 92-189 added provision requiring regulations to address application of program to individuals with a disability; P.A. 93-409 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added new Subsec. (b) requiring the commissioner to adopt regulations assuring fair access to state contracts for small contractors, small businesses and minority business enterprises; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 95-334 inserted Subdiv. indicators in Subsec. (a) and added provision requiring that regulations include guidelines re letters of credit, effective July 13, 1995; P.A. 99-233 divided existing Subsec. (a) into (a) and (b), redesignating existing Subsec. (b) as (c), amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) by replacing Commissioner of Economic and Community Development with Commissioner of Administrative Services, added provisions re training and workshops in Subsec. (a) and amended Subsec. (b) to authorize regulations to implement Secs. 32-9e to 32-9g, inclusive, adding Subdiv. (3) re random site visits and Subdiv. (4) re time limits for approval of application, effective June 29, 1999; Sec. 32-9f transferred to Sec. 4a-60h in 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to public works contracts and state contracts for goods and services, making a technical change, changing “agency” to “awarding agency” and adding “state” re references to set-aside program, added new Subsec. (b) re administration of the set-aside program for municipal public works contracts and quasi-public agency project contracts, added new Subsec. (c) re contracts that are both a public works contract and quasi-public agency project contract, redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) and (c) as Subsecs. (d) and (e), amended redesignated Subsec. (d) by making a technical change and adding reference to state set-aside program and amended redesignated Subsec. (e) by adding “state” re “contracts” and “set-aside program”.

Sec. 4a-60i. (Formerly Sec. 32-9g). Responsibilities of agency heads to negotiate and approve contracts not affected. Nothing in sections 4a-60g to 4a-60i, inclusive, shall be construed to interfere with the responsibilities of the heads of all state agencies to directly negotiate and approve all such contracts.

(P.A. 76-185, S. 3; P.A. 77-425, S. 2; 77-614, S. 73, 135, 587, 610; P.A. 83-390, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 77-425 replaced “departments” with “commissioners” of public works and transportation and included director of purchases; P.A. 77-614 replaced public works commissioner and director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 83-390 expanded section to cover heads of all state agencies, where previously only administrative services and transportation commissioners were included; Sec. 32-9g transferred to Sec. 4a-60i in 2001.

Sec. 4a-60j. (Formerly Sec. 32-9h). Time for payment of contractors. A small contractor shall receive payment on a contract awarded to him or her under the provisions of sections 4a-60g to 4a-60i, inclusive, no later than twenty-five days from the due date of any such payment on such contract.

(P.A. 77-425, S. 4; P.A. 19-141, S. 1.)

History: Sec. 32-9h transferred to Sec. 4a-60j in 2001; P.A. 19-141 changed time within which a small contractor is to receive payment from 30 days to 25 days from due date and made a technical change.

Sec. 4a-61. (Formerly Sec. 4-114b). Award of contracts concerning minority business enterprises. The Commissioner of Administrative Services, with the advice of the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, establishing procedures for the award of contracts concerning minority business enterprises by the state or any political subdivision of the state other than a municipality.

(P.A. 82-358, S. 1, 10; P.A. 83-580, S. 6, 8; P.A. 84-412, S. 4, 8; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6.)

History: P.A. 83-580 removed references to Secs. 32-9e, 32-9n, 32-53 and 32-23o(a); P.A. 84-412 included political subdivisions of the state other than municipalities and made certain technical changes; Sec. 4-114b transferred to Sec. 4a-61 in 1989; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development.

Sec. 4a-62. (Formerly Sec. 4-114c). Minority Business Enterprise Review Committee. (a) There is established a Minority Business Enterprise Review Committee. The committee shall consist of two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House, two members of the House appointed by the minority leader of the House, two members of the Senate appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, and two members of the Senate appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. The committee shall conduct an ongoing study of contract awards, loans and bonds made or guaranteed by awarding agencies and of municipal public works contracts and contracts for quasi-public agency projects for the purpose of determining the extent of compliance with the provisions of the general statutes concerning contract awards, loans and bonds for minority business enterprises, including the set-aside program for such business enterprises.

(b) The committee may request (1) any awarding agency authorized to award public works contracts or to enter into purchase of goods or services contracts, or (2) in the case of a municipal public works contract or contract for a quasi-public agency project, the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, to submit such information on compliance with sections 4a-60 and 4a-60g, and at such times as the committee may require. The committee shall consult with the Departments of Administrative Services, Transportation and Economic and Community Development and the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities concerning compliance with the state programs for minority business enterprises. The committee shall report annually on or before February first to the Joint Committee on Legislative Management on the results of its ongoing study and include its recommendations, if any, for legislation.

(P.A. 82-358, S. 2, 10; P.A. 83-580, S. 7, 8; P.A. 84-412, S. 5, 8; P.A. 88-351, S. 13, 16; P.A. 11-51, S. 49; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 45; P.A. 13-247, S. 203; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 65.)

History: P.A. 83-580 inserted Sec. 32-82 in the review list; P.A. 84-412 included political subdivisions of the state other than municipalities and made certain technical changes; P.A. 88-351 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting “a member” and substituting “two members”, deleting “review” and substituting “conduct an ongoing study of” and adding “including the set-aside program for such business enterprises”, and added Subsec. (b) re permitting committee to request information of state agencies, consultation with certain state agencies re compliance with state programs for minority business enterprises and annual report to legislative management; Sec. 4-114c transferred to Sec. 4a-62 in 1989; P.A. 11-51 amended Subsec. (b) to replace reference to Department of Public Works with reference to Departments of Administrative Services and Construction Services, effective July 1, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2 amended Subsec. (b) to delete “Standing” re Joint Committee on Legislative Management; P.A. 13-247 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to Department of Construction Services, effective July 1, 2013; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) by changing “the state or any political subdivision of the state other than a municipality” to “awarding agencies” and added reference to municipal public works contracts and quasi-public agency project contracts and amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provision as Subdiv. (1) and amending same to delete “of the state” and adding Subdiv. (2) re request to Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities in the case of municipal public works contract or quasi-public agency project contract.

Sec. 4a-63. Disqualification from bidding on contracts. Suspension. (a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services may disqualify any person, firm or corporation, for up to five years, from bidding on contracts with the Department of Administrative Services, pursuant to section 4a-57, for supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services required by any state agency, for one or more causes set forth under subsection (c) of this section. The commissioner may initiate a disqualification proceeding after consulting with the purchasing agency, if any, and the Attorney General and shall provide notice and an opportunity to be heard to the person, firm or corporation which is the subject of the proceeding. The commissioner shall issue a written decision within ninety days of the last date of such hearing and state in the decision the reasons for the action taken and, if the person, firm or corporation is being disqualified, the period of such disqualification. The commissioner shall send the decision to such person, firm or corporation by certified mail, return receipt requested. The written decision shall be a final decision for the purposes of sections 4-180 and 4-183.

(b) Before initiating such a proceeding or during the proceeding, the commissioner may, after consulting with any such purchasing agency and the Attorney General, suspend the person, firm or corporation from being considered for the awarding of such a contract for such supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services, if the commissioner determines that there is probable cause for disqualification under subsection (a) of this section. No such suspension shall exceed three months. The commissioner may suspend such a person, firm or corporation only by issuing a written decision setting forth the reasons for, and the period of, the suspension. The commissioner shall send the decision to such person, firm or corporation by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(c) Causes for disqualification or suspension from bidding on contracts shall include the following:

(1) Conviction or entry of a plea of guilty for commission of a criminal offense as an incident to obtaining or attempting to obtain a public or private contract or subcontract, or in the performance of such contract or subcontract;

(2) Conviction or entry of a plea of guilty under state or federal law for embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property or any other offense indicating a lack of business integrity or business honesty which affects responsibility as a state contractor;

(3) Conviction or entry of a plea of guilty under state or federal antitrust, collusion or conspiracy statutes arising out of the submission of bids or proposals;

(4) Noncompliance with contract provisions, of a character regarded by the commissioner to be of such gravity as to indicate a lack of responsibility to perform as a state contractor, including deliberate failure, without good cause, to perform in accordance with specifications or time limits provided in a contract;

(5) A recent record of failure to perform or of unsatisfactory performance in accordance with the terms of one or more contracts, unless such failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance was caused by acts beyond the control of the contractor or supplier; or

(6) Any other cause the commissioner determines to be so serious or compelling as to affect responsibility as a state contractor, including disqualification by another governmental entity, having caused financial loss to the state or having caused a serious delay or inability of state officials to carry out their duties on a past contract or contracts.

(P.A. 87-258; P.A. 99-161, S. 5, 11; P.A. 07-202, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 99-161 amended Subsec. (a) re initiation of disqualification proceedings by deleting the word “only” before “after consulting with the purchasing agency, if any, and the Attorney General”, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 07-202 amended Subsec. (a) to increase potential disqualification period from two years to five years, effective July 10, 2007.

Sec. 4a-64. (Formerly Sec. 4-116). Persons not to be interested in contract. Neither the Commissioner of Administrative Services, nor any member of his office staff, nor any member of the Standardization Committee nor the executive head of any state agency to whom purchasing authority has been delegated pursuant to section 4a-52a, nor any member of his office staff, nor the chief executive officer of a constituent unit of the state system of higher education or institution within such a constituent unit, nor any member of his office staff, shall be financially interested, or have any personal beneficial interest, either directly or indirectly, in any contract or purchase order for any supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services furnished to or used by any state agency or, in the case of the chief executive officer of such a constituent unit or such an institution or any member of his staff, by any such constituent unit or institution; nor shall such commissioner or member of his staff or member of the Standardization Committee or executive head or member of his staff or chief executive officer of such a constituent unit or institution or any member of his staff accept or receive, directly or indirectly, from any person, firm or corporation to which any contract or purchase order may be awarded by the Department of Administrative Services, any such state agency or any such constituent unit or institution, as the case may be, by rebate, gifts or otherwise, any money, or anything of value whatsoever, or any promise, obligation or contract for future reward or compensation. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or be both fined and imprisoned.

(March, 1950, S. 94d; 1959, P.A. 258, S. 8; P.A. 77-614, S. 97, 610; P.A. 90-201, S. 5, 11; P.A. 95-285, S. 6, 9.)

History: 1959 act substituted “director” for “supervisor”; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of administrative services for director of purchases; Sec. 4-116 transferred to Sec. 4a-64 in 1989; P.A. 90-201 added the chief executive officers of the constituent units of the state system of higher education and of the institutions within the constituent units, and members of their office staffs, as persons not to be interested in contracts; P.A. 95-285 applied section to executive heads of state agencies to whom purchasing authority is delegated pursuant to Sec. 4a-52 and any members of their office staff, effective July 1, 1995.

Sec. 4a-65. (Formerly Sec. 4-115). Unlawful purchases. When any state agency purchases or contracts for any supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services contrary to the provisions of this chapter or the regulations promulgated in pursuance thereof, such order or contract shall be void and of no effect. The administrative head of such agency shall be personally liable for the costs of such order or contract and, if already paid for out of state funds, the amount thereof may be recovered from such administrative head by the state in a civil action.

(1949 Rev., S. 254; 1959, P.A. 258, S. 7.)

History: 1959 act made no change in section; Sec. 4-115 transferred to Sec. 4a-65 in 1989.

Cited. 220 C. 689; 233 C. 254.

Sec. 4a-66. (Formerly Sec. 4-25). Acquisition of federal property. Contracts with federal agencies concerning health services. Exemption from statutes or municipal charter. Purchasing from federal contractors. (a) The state, through the Commissioner of Administrative Services, or any political subdivision thereof, through the officer or agent legally authorized to make purchases on its behalf, may enter into any contract with the United States government or any federal agency for the purchase, lease or other acquisition of any equipment, supplies, materials or other property or for the purchase, sale or exchange of, or other cooperation concerning, services related to medicine or health. No provision of the statutes or of any municipal charter concerning the inviting of competitive bids, public advertising for bids or of expenditures, the delivery of purchases before payment, or any other provision which may result in disadvantage or loss of opportunity to such state agency or subdivision in such transactions with the federal government, shall apply to transactions made under the provisions of this subsection. Any municipality desiring to enter into any such contract may do so only after the acceptance of the applicable provisions of this section at a meeting of such municipality warned and held for the purpose.

(b) The state, through the Commissioner of Administrative Services and pursuant to Public Law 103-355, may purchase equipment, supplies, materials, information technology services or other property or services from a person who has a contract to sell such property to a department, agency or instrumentality of the United States government, in accordance with the terms and conditions of said contract.

(1949 Rev., S. 263; P.A. 77-111, S. 1, 2; 77-614, S. 135, 610; P.A. 96-176, S. 3; P.A. 08-19, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 77-111 allowed contracting with federal agencies for services related to medicine or health; P.A. 77-614 replaced director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services; Sec. 4-25 transferred to Sec. 4a-66 in 1989; P.A. 96-176 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), inserted “Government” in Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re purchasing from federal contractors; P.A. 08-19 amended Subsec. (b) to include references to information technology services and other services, effective April 29, 2008.

Sec. 4a-67. (Formerly Sec. 4-120a). Acquisition of federal surplus property. The Commissioner of Administrative Services is designated as the official agency of the state to acquire, warehouse and distribute surplus personal property of the federal government and to act on behalf of any state agencies or other donees eligible for such federal surplus personal property under federal legislation or regulations, and is authorized to execute, with the approval of the Attorney General, any certification or agreement required by the federal government and to take all other action necessary or appropriate to cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the purpose of any federal act or regulation in connection with such surplus personal property. All moneys or other assets derived from the sale of property acquired under the provisions of this section shall be credited to the revolving fund established by section 4a-75 and may be expended after allotment in accordance with law.

(1959, P.A. 136, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 482, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 101, 610.)

History: 1967 act required proceeds of sales be credited to revolving fund; P.A. 77-614 replaced director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services; Sec. 4-120a transferred to Sec. 4a-67 in 1989.

Sec. 4a-67a. Efforts to increase state purchase of goods containing recyclable materials and goods capable of being recycled or remanufactured. (a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall, whenever practicable, make efforts to increase state procurement of goods that contain recycled materials and products that are recyclable or remanufactured, as defined in subsection (c) of section 4a-59. Such efforts may include: (1) Requiring replies to state agency bid specifications to include a statement of postconsumer and secondary waste content; (2) establishing minimum goals for state purchase of white bond and other paper with specified postconsumer and secondary waste content and a schedule for the accomplishment of such goals; (3) requiring bids to be accompanied by statements assessing the ability of the materials to be recycled or products to be recycled or remanufactured and assessing the extent to which there are established recycling programs which would facilitate recycling or remanufacturing; (4) authorizing the Department of Administrative Services to substitute similar but different paper products to meet agency orders if the substitute has a higher postconsumer waste content; (5) requiring the Department of Administrative Services to revise a specification to eliminate requirements which favor virgin over recycled materials unless there is a compelling reason for the specification; (6) requiring the commissioner to investigate and report to the Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Advisory Council opportunities for purchase of materials containing postconsumer waste; and (7) requiring the state to utilize two-sided copies, whenever possible, to reduce paper waste.

(b) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall post on the department's Internet web site information regarding the department's efforts to increase state procurement of goods that contain recycled materials and products that are recyclable or remanufactured.

(c) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall revise the specifications for products and materials purchased by the state for which the United States Environmental Protection Agency has guidelines for minimum recycled content to incorporate such minimum guidelines. Such specifications shall favor recycled, recyclable or remanufactured products and materials where such products or materials are available.

(P.A. 88-231, S. 1; P.A. 93-367, S. 3; P.A. 94-153, S. 2; P.A. 99-213, S. 4; P.A. 12-205, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 93-367 amended Subsec. (b) to delete requirement that report be submitted to municipal solid waste recycling advisory council and added Subsec. (c) re revision of purchasing specifications; P.A. 94-153 amended Subsec. (c) to delete a provision regarding an aggregate price preference for any fiscal year; P.A. 99-213 amended Subsec. (a) to require preparation and updating of plan to increase state procurement of products that are recyclable or remanufactured and amended Subsec. (c) to require bid specifications for products and materials purchased by state to favor recyclable or remanufactured products; P.A. 12-205 amended Subsec. (a) to replace language requiring preparation of a plan with language requiring commissioner to make efforts to increase state purchase of recycled or recyclable goods, deleted former Subsec. (b) re submission of report re implementation of the plan and added new Subsec. (b) requiring commissioner to post information re department's efforts on its web site, effective July 1, 2012.

Sec. 4a-67b. Elimination of use of disposable and single-use products in state government. (a) As used in this section and section 4b-15, “disposable product” means any product with an essential part which cannot be replaced, refilled or renewed and for which a reusable product exists, and “single-use product” means any nonconsumable product designed to be discarded after one use or customarily used only once and for which a reusable substitute exists.

(b) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall, whenever practicable, eliminate the use of disposable and single-use products in state government.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to apply to disposable or single-use products directly related to health or veterinary care or medical or scientific research.

(d) On and after October 1, 1999, the Department of Administrative Services in the exercise of its procurement authority shall not procure any product for state use if the original manufacturer of the product prohibits the remanufacture or recycling of such product or requires any contract that forbids remanufacturing or recycling of the product. The provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit the department from procuring products from a manufacturer who has entered into a written contract with the department or a customer pursuant to which the department or a customer agrees to return a used product to the manufacturer for recycling or remanufacturing provided such manufacturer has established a recycling or remanufacturing program for such product.

(P.A. 89-385, S. 8; P.A. 99-213, S. 1; P.A. 12-205, S. 8.)

History: P.A. 99-213 added new Subsec. (d) to prohibit Department of Administrative Services from purchasing products from manufacturers that prohibit remanufacturing or recycling of such products, effective October 1, 1999; P.A. 12-205 amended Subsec. (b) to replace language re plan and schedule for elimination of disposable and single-use products with requirement that commissioner eliminate such products whenever practicable, effective July 1, 2012.

Sec. 4a-67c. Equipment and appliances for state use, energy standards. The Department of Administrative Services and each other budgeted agency, as defined in section 4-69, exercising procurement authority shall procure equipment and appliances for state use that meet or exceed the federal energy conservation standards set forth in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, 42 USC 6295, any federal regulations adopted thereunder, any applicable energy performance standards and meet or exceed the federal Energy Star standards. Purchases of equipment and appliances for which energy performance standards have been established shall be (1) made from among those specific models of equipment and appliances which meet such standards, and (2) based, when possible, on competitive bids. Such bids shall be evaluated on the basis of the life-cycle cost standards, if any.

(P.A. 90-219, S. 12; P.A. 93-417, S. 3, 5; P.A. 94-67, S. 3; P.A. 95-346, S. 2, 4; P.A. 07-242, S. 16; P.A. 16-173, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 93-417 replaced requirement that department purchase energy-efficient appliances with requirement that department procure equipment and appliances which meet or exceed federal standards, effective October 1, 1993, and applicable to design proposals for major capital projects which are commenced after that date; P.A. 94-67 added provisions re energy performance and life-cycle cost standards; P.A. 95-346 applied section to budgeted agencies exercising procurement authority, added reference to federal regulations and made a technical change, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 07-242 added requirement that equipment and appliances meet or exceed Energy Star standards and made a technical change; P.A. 16-173 deleted references to Sec. 16a-38 (b) and (j), effective July 1, 2016.

Sec. 4a-67d. Purchase of cars, light duty trucks and buses. Gasoline mileage ratings. Alternative-fuel, hybrid electric or plug-in electric vehicles. Battery electric vehicles and zero-emission buses. Requirements. Exemptions. Reports. Aggregate procurement. (a) As used in this section, (1) “emergency vehicle” means a vehicle used by the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Department of Correction, Office of State Capitol Police, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Department of Developmental Services, Department of Social Services, Department of Children and Families, Department of Transportation, Judicial Department, Board of Pardons and Paroles, Board of Regents for Higher Education, The University of Connecticut or The University of Connecticut Health Center for law enforcement or emergency response purposes, (2) “hybrid” means a passenger car that draws acceleration energy from two on-board sources of stored energy that consists of either an internal combustion or heat engine which uses combustible fuel and a rechargeable energy storage system and, for any passenger car or light duty truck with a model year of 2004 or newer, that is certified to meet or exceed the California Air Resources Board's LEV (Low Emission Vehicle) II LEV Standard, (3) “zero-emission bus” means any urban bus certified by the executive officer of the California Air Resources Board to produce zero emissions of any criteria pollutant under all operational modes and conditions, (4) “battery electric vehicle” and “fuel cell electric vehicle” have the same meanings as provided in section 16-19eee, and (5) “camp trailer” has the same meaning as provided in section 14-1.

(b) The fleet average for cars or light duty trucks purchased by the state shall: (1) On and after October 1, 2001, have a United States Environmental Protection Agency estimated highway gasoline mileage rating of at least thirty-five miles per gallon and on and after January 1, 2003, have a United States Environmental Protection Agency estimated highway gasoline mileage rating of at least forty miles per gallon, (2) comply with the requirements set forth in 10 CFR 490 concerning the percentage of alternative-fueled vehicles required in the state motor vehicle fleet, and (3) obtain the best achievable mileage per pound of carbon dioxide emitted in its class. The alternative-fueled vehicles purchased by the state to comply with said requirements shall be capable of operating on natural gas or electricity or any other system acceptable to the United States Department of Energy that operates on fuel that is available in the state.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, (1) on and after January 1, 2008: (A) At least fifty per cent of all cars and light duty trucks purchased or leased by the state shall be alternative-fueled, hybrid electric or plug-in electric vehicles, (B) all alternative-fueled vehicles purchased or leased by the state shall be certified to the California Air Resources Board's Low Emission Vehicle II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Standard, and (C) all gasoline-powered light duty and hybrid vehicles purchased or leased by the state shall, at a minimum, be certified to the California Air Resource Board's Low Emission Vehicle II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Standard, (2) on and after January 1, 2012, one hundred per cent of such cars and light duty trucks shall be alternative-fueled, hybrid electric or plug-in electric vehicles, (3) on and after January 1, 2026, at least fifty per cent of such cars and light duty trucks shall be battery electric vehicles, (4) on and after January 1, 2028, at least seventy-five per cent of such cars and light duty trucks shall be battery electric vehicles, and (5) on and after January 1, 2030, one hundred per cent of such cars and light duty trucks shall be battery electric vehicles.

(d) (1) On and after January 1, 2030, at least thirty per cent of all buses purchased or leased by the state shall be zero-emission buses.

(2) On and after January 1, 2024, the state shall cease to procure, purchase or lease any diesel-fueled transit bus.

(e) The provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section shall not apply to any (1) emergency vehicle, (2) sport utility vehicle, (3) bus or van that transports individuals in wheelchairs, (4) specialty upfitted motor vehicle, or (5) camp trailer.

(f) In performing the requirements of this section, the Commissioners of Administrative Services, Energy and Environmental Protection and Transportation shall, whenever possible, consider the use of and impact on Connecticut-based companies.

(g) The Commissioner of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Transportation, shall (1) study the feasibility of creating a competitive bid process for the aggregate procurement of light, medium and heavy duty battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles and zero-emission buses, (2) determine whether such aggregate procurement would achieve a cost savings on the purchase of such vehicles and buses and related administrative costs, (3) develop a plan to implement zero-emission buses state-wide, and (4) identify any barriers to such implementation. On or before January 1, 2024, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, a report on the results of such study and a copy of the implementation plan to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to government administration and transportation. The Commissioner of Administrative Services may proceed with such aggregate procurement if the commissioner determines such aggregate procurement would achieve a cost savings.

(h) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall consider the lower costs associated with the maintenance of a battery electric vehicle when establishing the amount to lease such battery electric vehicle to another state agency.

(i) Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, if the fleet average for cars or light duty trucks purchased by the state does not meet the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner shall submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, a report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to government administration, transportation and the environment. Such report shall (1) explain why such requirements were not met, and (2) propose an alternative schedule to meet such requirements after considering available appropriations and the market conditions for battery electric vehicles and the associated charging infrastructure for battery electric vehicles.

(P.A. 90-219, S. 5; P.A. 93-37, S. 1, 2; 93-199, S. 5, 6; P.A. 01-168, S. 2; P.A. 04-231, S. 2; P.A. 07-242, S. 122; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 34; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 17-243, S. 3; P.A. 19-117, S. 93; P.A. 21-76, S. 19; P.A. 22-25, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 93-37 amended Subsec. (a) to modify the gasoline mileage requirements and added Subsec. (d) re requirements for purchase of alternative fuel vehicles, effective April 22, 1993; P.A. 93-199 changed mileage rating in Subsec. (a) from 26 to 29 miles per gallon for cars and from 20 to 24 miles per gallon for light duty trucks and added exemption in Subsec. (b) for certain vehicles purchased by state and intended for conversion to alternative fuel use, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 01-168 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining the highway gasoline mileage rating required in the state motor vehicle fleet, and deleted Subsec. (d) re requirements for the purchase of car and light duty trucks powered by combustion of natural gas or electricity in calendar years 1993 and 1994; P.A. 04-231 added Subsec. (a)(3) re best achievable mileage per pound of carbon dioxide and amended Subsec. (b) to delete exception for cars or trucks intended for conversion into natural gas or electric-powered vehicles; P.A. 07-242 added new Subsec. (b) re efficiency ratings, redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) and (c) as Subsecs. (c) and (d), and made exception in Subsec. (c) applicable to new Subsec. (b) as well as Subsec. (a), effective June 4, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 added new Subsec. (b) re requirements for alternative-fueled, hybrid electric or plug-in electric vehicles, amended Subsec. (c) by replacing provision re vehicles purchased for law enforcement or special use purposes with provision re vehicles of the Department of Public Safety, and added Subsecs. (e) to (i), effective June 29, 2007; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Commissioner of Public Safety” and “Department of Public Safety” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection” and “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsecs. (e), (f) and (i), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 17-243 amended Subsec. (c) to replace provision re designation of necessary vehicles of Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with reference to emergency vehicles, amended Subsec. (d) to designate existing provisions re definitions of “car” and “light duty truck” as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdivs. (2) and (3) re definitions of “emergency vehicle” and “hybrid”, deleted Subsec. (e) re report on composition of state fleet and redesignated Subsecs. (f) and (g) as Subsecs. (e) and (f), amended redesignated Subsec. (e) to delete Subdiv. (3) re listing of exempted vehicles and redesignate Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (3) and (4), deleted Subsec. (h) re definition of “hybrid” and redesignated Subsec. (i) as Subsec. (g), and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 11, 2017; P.A. 19-117 amended Subsec. (b) to add Subdiv. (3) re zero-emission vehicles on and after January 1, 2030, added new Subsec. (c) re zero-emission buses on and after January 1, 2030, designated existing provision re explanation of determination in annual report as new Subsec. (d) and amended same to replace “this subsection” with “subsections (b) and (c) of this section”, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) to (g) as Subsecs. (e) to (i), added exception in redesignated Subsec. (e) applicable to new Subsec. (c), amended redesignated Subsec. (f) to delete former Subdiv. (1) defining “car” and “light duty truck”, redesignate existing Subdivs. (2) and (3) as new Subdivs. (1) and (2), and add Subdivs. (3) and (4) defining “zero-emission vehicle” and “zero-emission bus”, respectively, amended redesignated Subsec. (g) to add “, in consultation with the Commissioner of Transportation,” and add Subdivs. (5) and (6) re vehicle purchasing and procurement plan and assessment of truck availability, respectively, amended redesignated Subsec. (i) to add reference to Commissioner of Transportation, added Subsec. (j) re aggregate procurement of zero-emission vehicles and zero-emission buses, and made technical changes; P.A. 21-76 deleted former Subsec. (d) re explanation of determination of nonavailability of vehicles in annual report, redesignated existing Subsecs. (e) and (f) as Subsecs. (d) and (e), deleted former Subsec. (g) re annual report by Commissioner of Administrative Services, deleted former Subsec. (h) re authorization to enter into agreements and redesignated existing Subsecs. (i) and (j) as Subsecs. (f) and (g), effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-25 moved provisions re definitions from existing Subsec. (e) to new Subsec. (a) and amended same to delete definition of “zero-emission vehicle” and add definitions of “battery electric vehicle”, “fuel cell electric vehicle” and “camp trailer”, redesignated existing Subsecs. (a) and (b) as Subsec. (b) and (c), redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d)(1) and amended same to add Subdiv. (2) re diesel-fueled transit bus, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (e) and amended same to add Subdiv. designator (1) and add Subdivs. (2) to (5) re sport utility vehicle, bus or van that transports individuals in wheelchairs, specialty upfitted motor vehicle and camp trailer, amended Subsec. (g) to designate existing provisions as Subdivs. (1) and (2), replace zero-emission vehicles with light, medium and heavy duty battery electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles, add Subdiv. (3) re plan to implement zero-emission buses state-wide, add Subdiv. (4) re barriers to implementation and replace reference to January 1, 2020, with reference to January 1, 2024, added Subsec. (h) re consideration of lower costs associated with maintenance of battery electric vehicle when establishing amount to lease such vehicle, added Subsec. (i) re report on fleet average for cars or light duty trucks purchased by state and made technical changes.

Sec. 4a-67e. Standards for purchase of recycled paper. All recycled xerographic or copy paper purchased by the state for use in state offices shall meet the applicable minimum recycled content standards established in federal Executive Order No. 13101, and any regulations or guidelines promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the purposes of said order, for purchase of paper by the federal government, provided such paper shall have a composition such that at least ten per cent of the fiber material used to produce such paper is derived from postconsumer recovered paper. Any recycled white paper used for state lottery tickets and tax return forms shall meet the standards provided therein for xerographic copy paper, provided at least thirty per cent of the fiber material used to produce such paper is derived from postconsumer recovered paper, and further provided the recycled paper for lottery tickets meets lottery security requirements. All tax return booklets prepared by the Department of Revenue Services shall be printed on recycled paper which meets the minimum recycled content standards for white paper or newsprint, whichever is used in such booklets, established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, provided at least ten per cent of the fiber material used to produce such white paper is derived from postconsumer recovered paper.

(P.A. 93-367, S. 1; P.A. 97-124, S. 11, 16; P.A. 01-168, S. 3; P.A. 06-196, S. 189.)

History: P.A. 97-124 changed the minimum recycled content standard for recycled xerographic or copy paper to that contained in federal Executive Order No. 12873, effective June 6, 1997; P.A. 01-168 made technical changes and replaced “ten per cent” with “thirty per cent”; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes, effective June 7, 2006.

Sec. 4a-67f. Specifications for printing and writing paper. (a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall revise the specifications for printing and writing paper purchased by the state to (1) incorporate the standards provided for in federal Executive Order No. 13101 and any regulations or guidelines promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the purposes of said order, and (2) provide for the purchase and use by state agencies of paper composed entirely of materials manufactured using processes (A) which do not involve the harvesting of trees or which are otherwise derived entirely from sources other than trees, and (B) which can be categorized as having less adverse impact on the environment than conventional processes.

(b) The commissioner may provide for alternative standards in such specifications if the commissioner determines that (1) a satisfactory level of competition does not exist with regard to the market for a particular paper item specified in such standards, (2) a particular paper item is not available within a reasonable time period, or (3) the available items fail to meet reasonable performance standards established by the agency for which such items are being procured.

(P.A. 94-153, S. 1; P.A. 98-99, S. 2; P.A. 06-196, S. 190.)

History: P.A. 98-99 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re purchase of paper produced by processes with less adverse environmental impact; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes, effective June 7, 2006.

Sec. 4a-67g. Recycling and remanufacture of laser printer toner cartridges. The Department of Administrative Services shall make available for recycling or remanufacture any spent laser printer toner cartridge purchased by such agency on and after October 1, 1999.

(P.A. 99-213, S. 2.)

Sec. 4a-67h. Procedures promoting the procurement and use of recycled products and environmentally preferable products and services by state agencies. (a) As used in this section, “environmentally preferable” means, with regard to products, services or practices, that such products, services or practices have a lesser or reduced negative effect on human health and the environment when compared to competing products, services or practices that serve the same function. “Environmentally preferable products” includes both recycled and recyclable products.

(b) Within available appropriations, the Department of Administrative Services shall establish procedures that promote, to the greatest extent feasible, the procurement and use of recycled products and environmentally preferable products, services, and practices by state agencies. The department shall: (1) Designate environmentally preferable products, taking into consideration the raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance or disposal aspects of such products, and establish minimum standards and specifications for their procurement and use; (2) when feasible, include the use of environmentally preferable products and services as a criteria in a multiple criteria bid or an evaluation factor in requests for proposals; and (3) consider the use of environmentally preferable business practices when reviewing the overall performance of a bidder or proposer's business operation. Such procedures shall not be considered regulations, as defined in section 4-166.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2005, and annually thereafter, the department shall: (1) Develop and maintain information about environmentally preferable products, services and practices procured through the department, including, but not limited to, products, services and practices that minimize global warming impact and recycled products; (2) provide assistance with the implementation of the procedures developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and provide information to agencies about the use of environmentally preferable products and services; and (3) monitor the use of environmentally preferable products, services and practices and recycled products by state agencies. Such information compiled pursuant to this subsection shall designate those products, services or practices that cost the same as or less than other similar products, services or practices.

(P.A. 01-168, S. 1; P.A. 03-19, S. 9; P.A. 04-252, S. 4; P.A. 05-288, S. 19.)

History: P.A. 03-19 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective May 12, 2003; P.A. 04-252 amended Subsec. (b) to replace “products and services” with “products, services, and practices”, and amended Subsec. (c) to replace “Within available appropriations” with “Not later than January 1, 2005, and annually thereafter”, to add provisions re environmentally preferable practices, to add provision re products, services and practices procured through the department that minimize global warming impact, and to add provision re products, services or practices that cost the same or less than other similar products, services or practices (Revisor's note: In 2005, the phrase “Such information compiled pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and this subsection shall ...”, which appeared in the last sentence of said Subsec. (c), as enacted, was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Such information compiled pursuant to this subsection shall ...”, for accuracy); P.A. 05-288 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective July 13, 2005.

Secs. 4a-68 to 4a-70. (Formerly Secs. 4-34, 4-117, 4-124). Commissioner to contract for state printing; exception; reproduction of documents filed with certain agencies. Commissioner of Administrative Services to approve requests for microcopying services. Forms used by state agencies; duties of Administrative Services Commissioner re forms. Sections 4a-68 to 4a-70, inclusive, are repealed effective July 1, 1996.

(1949 Rev., S. 277; March, 1950, S. 95d; 1953, S. 92d, 98d; 1955, S. 103d, 1010d; 1957, P.A. 176, S. 13, 14; 537, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 258, S. 9; 1963, P.A. 519, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 495, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 566; P.A. 73-679, S. 17, 43; P.A. 74-23; P.A. 75-537, S. 32, 55; P.A. 77-614, S. 83, 98, 105, 610; P.A. 79-343; P.A. 80-388, S. 2; P.A. 88-297, S. 11; P.A. 90-230, S. 7, 101; P.A. 91-144, S. 4; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-230, S. 32, 45; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-88, S. 8, 9.)

Sec. 4a-70a. Prohibition on printing state stationery containing party symbol. No public official or state employee, as defined in section 1-79, shall print or arrange for the printing of stationery for the state containing a generally recognized symbol of a major or minor party, as defined in section 9-372.

(P.A. 91-351, S. 27, 28.)

Sec. 4a-71. (Formerly Sec. 4-121a). Prompt payment by state departments and agencies. (a) Except as provided in section 4a-72, each state department and agency shall pay interest at a rate equal to the monthly effective yield for the Short Term Investment Fund administered by the Treasurer pursuant to sections 3-27a to 3-27f, inclusive, on amounts due on written contracts for public works, personal services, goods and services, equipment and travel, whenever such department or agency fails to make timely payment.

(b) For the purposes of this section, payment shall be timely if: (1) A check or warrant is mailed or delivered on the date specified for the amount specified in the applicable contract documents, or, if no date is specified, within forty-five days of receipt of a properly completed claim or receipt of goods and services, whichever is later; or (2) for any amount that is required to be withheld under state or federal law, a check or warrant is mailed or delivered in the proper amount on the date the amount may be released under the applicable law.

(P.A. 84-243, S. 4; P.A. 05-95, S. 1; P.A. 15-123, S. 6.)

History: Sec. 4-121a transferred to Sec. 4a-71 in 1989; P.A. 05-95 changed interest rate in Subsec. (a) from 1% per month to the monthly effective yield for the Short Term Investment Fund; P.A. 15-123 amended Subsec. (a) to change reference from Sec. 4a-73 to Sec. 4a-72, effective June 23, 2015.

Sec. 4a-72. (Formerly Sec. 4-121b). Prompt payment. Exceptions. (a) Section 4a-71 shall not apply to the following: (1) Interagency or intergovernmental transactions; (2) amounts payable to employees or prospective employees of state departments or agencies as reimbursement for expenses; (3) claims subject to a good faith dispute, if before the date of timely payment, notice of the dispute is: (A) Sent by certified mail; (B) personally delivered; or (C) sent in accordance with any procedure in the contract; (4) contracts entered into before October 1, 1984; (5) contracts related to highway or road construction, reconstruction or maintenance; or (6) claims, contracts or projects that are to be paid for exclusively with federal funds.

(b) As used in subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section, “good faith dispute” means: (1) A contention by the state that goods delivered or services rendered were: (A) Of less quantity or quality than ordered or specified by contract; (B) faulty; or (C) installed improperly; or (2) any other reason giving cause for the withholding of payment by the state until such dispute is settled.

(P.A. 84-243, S. 5; P.A. 05-288, S. 20.)

History: Sec. 4-121b transferred to Sec. 4a-72 in 1989; P.A. 05-288 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 13, 2005.

Sec. 4a-73. (Formerly Sec. 4-121c). Administration of prompt payment provisions. (a) Any state agency required to pay late payment penalties under section 4a-71 shall pay the penalties from funds designated for administrative costs of the agency receiving the public works, personal services, goods and services, equipment or travel. The penalties shall not be paid from other funds of the state.

(b) Any amount of an interest penalty which remains unpaid at the end of any thirty-day period shall be added to the principal amount of the debt and, thereafter, interest penalties shall accrue on that amount.

(c) In instances where a claim is filled out incorrectly or where there is any defect or impropriety in a claim submitted, the state department or agency shall contact the vendor within ten days. An error on the vendor's claim, if corrected within five business days of his being so contacted and within the payment period as determined pursuant to section 4a-71, shall not result in the vendor being paid after the expiration of the period for timely payment.

(P.A. 84-243, S. 6.)

History: Sec. 4-121c transferred to Sec. 4a-73 in 1989.

Sec. 4a-74. (Formerly Sec. 4-110d). Governmental exemption from public utility late payment charge. Notwithstanding any regulation or order of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority which permits the imposition of a late payment charge by a public service company on customer bills, the state and any political subdivision thereof: (1) Shall not be subject to such charge on any bill which accrued on or before June 5, 1975; and (2) shall not be subject to such charge on any bill which accrues after said date, for the first sixty days after the due date of such bill.

(P.A. 75-267; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 80-482, S. 5, 348; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 77-614 replaced public utility control authority with division of public utility control within the department of business regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 replaced division of public utility control with department of public utility control and abolished department of business regulation; Sec. 4-110d transferred to Sec. 4a-74 in 1989; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Public Utility Control” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority”, effective July 1, 2011.

Sec. 4a-75. (Formerly Sec. 4-122). Payment of obligations. Department of Administrative Services Revolving Fund. The Comptroller shall prescribe the manner in which claims for supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services purchased or contracted for shall be submitted, examined, approved and paid. There shall continue to be, from the appropriations of the state agencies, a Department of Administrative Services Revolving Fund of such amount as the Commissioner of Administrative Services, with the approval of the Governor, determines to be necessary to defray such current expenses for supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services as will be incurred by the commissioner in anticipation of the future requirements of state agencies or under other conditions necessitating the payment of such expense prior to the determination of the legal or equitable claims to be charged on account of such expenses to the appropriations of such agencies. Claims on account of such expenses shall be paid from said revolving fund. Any such expenses which cannot be specifically allocated to particular state agencies shall be apportioned monthly by the commissioner, with the approval of the Standardization Committee, among the state agencies for which they were incurred in such manner as the commissioner deems equitable. All funds received in payment of such claims shall be credited to said revolving fund.

(1949 Rev., S. 255; 1959, P.A. 258, S. 12; P.A. 77-614, S. 102, 610; P.A. 93-30, S. 2, 14; P.A. 00-68, S. 1.)

History: 1959 act substituted “director of purchases” for “supervisor of purchases”; P.A. 77-614 replaced director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services; Sec. 4-122 transferred to Sec. 4a-75 in 1989; P.A. 93-30 changed name of fund from “revolving or working capital fund” to “general services revolving fund”, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 00-68 substituted “Department of Administrative Services Revolving Fund” for “General Services Revolving Fund”.

Sec. 4a-76. (Formerly Sec. 4-122a). Recording of estimated requirements. In July and December of each fiscal year the Comptroller shall record upon the records of the revolving fund established under section 4a-75, or adjust the records to reflect, as anticipated resources of the fund, such amount as the Commissioner of Administrative Services estimates to be the requirements of state agencies for the twelve months immediately succeeding. The amounts so estimated shall be deemed to be appropriated and subject to allotment according to law.

(1967, P.A. 467, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 103, 610.)

History: P.A. 77-614 replaced director of purchases with commissioner of administrative services; Sec. 4-122a transferred to Sec. 4a-76 in 1989.

Sec. 4a-77. Definitions. As used in sections 4a-77 to 4a-79, inclusive:

(1) “License” means the whole or part of any public agency permit, certificate, approval, registration, charter or similar form of permission to engage in a profession, trade, business or occupation and any notification required to be made to any public agency that a profession, trade, business or occupation is being engaged in or is expected to be commenced.

(2) “Person” means an individual, partnership, society, association, joint stock company, corporation, limited liability company, estate, receiver, trustee, assignee, referee, or any other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, whether appointed by a court or otherwise, or any combination of the foregoing.

(3) “Public agency” means any department within the executive branch of state government as listed in section 4-38c.

(4) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Revenue Services.

(5) “Issuing a license” includes the granting, renewing, amending or supplementing a license.

(P.A. 93-288, S. 1, 7; P.A. 95-79, S. 10, 189.)

History: P.A. 93-288 effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-79 redefined “person” to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995; (Revisor's note: In 2017, a reference to repealed Sec. 4a-80 was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. 4a-79, for accuracy).

Sec. 4a-78. State policy with respect to providing Social Security numbers and federal employer identification numbers. It is the policy of the state to require persons applying for a license, selling goods or services or leasing real or personal property to a public agency, to furnish a federal Social Security account number or federal employer identification number or both, if available, to establish the identification of persons affected by the tax laws of the state and for that purpose only to treat public agencies as having an administrative responsibility for the tax laws of the state.

(P.A. 93-288, S. 2, 7; P.A. 97-309, S. 18, 23; 97-322, S. 7, 9; P.A. 99-268, S. 19; P.A. 00-169, S. 22; P.A. 06-130, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 93-288 effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 97-309 added registering any motor vehicle with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, effective October 1, 1999; P.A. 97-322 changed effective date of P.A. 97-309 but without affecting this section; P.A. 99-268 specified that provision regarding motor vehicle registrations applies “after October 1, 2001”; P.A. 00-169 revised effective date of P.A. 99-268 but without affecting this section; P.A. 06-130 removed provision re registering any motor vehicle with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, effective June 2, 2006.

Sec. 4a-79. Federal Social Security number or employer identification number required on each license issued by a public agency. (a) Each public agency, as part of any procedure for issuing any license, shall require each person making application for a license to provide such person's federal Social Security account number or federal employer identification number, or both, if available, to the licensing agency or where such number or numbers are unavailable, the reason or reasons for the unavailability. The numbers or reasons shall be obtained by the agency as part of the administration of taxes administered by the commissioner for the purpose of establishing the identification of persons affected by such taxes.

(b) Each public agency issuing any licenses shall on or before February 1, 1995, and February first annually thereafter furnish to the commissioner on a compatible magnetic tape file or in some other form which is acceptable to the commissioner, a list of all persons to whom licenses were issued by such agency during the preceding calendar year.

(c) Each list provided to the commissioner pursuant to this section shall contain the name, address and federal Social Security account number or federal employer identification number of each person named on such list, or both, if available to such agency or the reason or reasons for the unavailability.

(P.A. 93-288, S. 3, 7.)

History: P.A. 93-288 effective July 1, 1994.

Sec. 4a-80. Federal Social Security number or employer identification number required of all contractors purchasing goods or services. Section 4a-80 is repealed, effective July 1, 2016.

(P.A. 93-288, S. 4, 7; P.A. 16-81, S. 14.)

Sec. 4a-81. Contracts for goods and services over fifty thousand dollars. Representations in contract re consulting agreements. Failure to agree to representations. (a) Except as provided in section 10a-151f, no state agency or quasi-public agency shall execute a contract for the purchase of goods or services, which contract has a total value to the state of fifty thousand dollars or more in any calendar or fiscal year, unless such contract contains the representations described in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) (1) Each contract described in subsection (a) of this section shall include a representation whether any consulting agreement has been entered into in connection with any such contract. Such representation shall be required if any duties of the consultant included communications concerning business of a state or quasi-public agency, whether or not direct contact with a state agency, state or public official or state employee was expected or made. As used in this section, “consulting agreement” means any written or oral agreement to retain the services, for a fee, of a consultant for the purposes of (A) providing counsel to a contractor, vendor, consultant or other entity seeking to conduct, or conducting, business with the state, (B) contacting, whether in writing or orally, any executive, judicial, or administrative office of the state, including any department, institution, bureau, board, commission, authority, official or employee for the purpose of solicitation, dispute resolution, introduction, requests for information, or (C) any other similar activity related to such contracts. “Consulting agreement” does not include any agreements entered into with a consultant who is registered under the provisions of chapter 10 as of the date such contract is executed in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(2) Such representation shall be made to the best knowledge and belief of the person signing the contract and shall be subject to the penalty of false statement as provided in section 53a-157b.

(3) If such representation indicates that a consulting agreement has been entered into in connection with any such contract, such representation shall include or attach the following information for each consulting agreement listed: The name of the consultant, the consultant's firm, the basic terms of the consulting agreement, a brief description of the services provided, and an indication as to whether the consultant is a former state employee or public official. If the consultant is a former state employee or public official, such representation shall indicate his or her former agency and the date such employment terminated.

(c) Each state agency and quasi-public agency shall include a notice of the representation requirements of this section in the bid specifications or request for proposals for any contract that is described in subsection (a) of this section.

(d) If a bidder or vendor refuses to agree to the representations required under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, such bidder or vendor shall be rejected and the state agency or quasi-public agency shall award the contract to the next highest ranked vendor or the next lowest responsible qualified bidder or seek new bids or proposals.

(P.A. 05-287, S. 51; P.A. 11-229, S. 5; P.A. 17-130, S. 10; P.A. 21-76, S. 4; P.A. 22-40, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 05-287 effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 11-229 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to July 13, 2005, and delete “written” re affidavit, amended Subsec. (b)(1) to substitute “Any principal or key personnel of a person, firm or corporation who submit bids or proposals” for “The chief official of the bidder or vendor awarded”, delete reference to the individual awarded the contract, add reference to quasi-public agency and make technical changes, amended Subsec. (b)(3) to add “following information for each consulting agreement listed”, and amended Subsec. (b)(4) by replacing former provisions with provisions re updated affidavits; P.A. 17-130 amended Subsec. (a) to add “Except as provided in section 10a-151f” and Subsec. (d) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 21-79 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing provision re obtaining affidavit with provision re contract containing representations, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing provision re principal or key personnel attesting in affidavit with provision re contract containing representation, deleting former Subdiv. (4) re resubmission and updates to affidavit, and making conforming changes, amended Subsec. (c) by changing “affidavit” to “representation”, and amended Subsec. (d) by changing “submit the affidavit” to “agree to the representations” and “disqualified” to “rejected” and adding reference to subsection (a) of this section, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-40 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “sworn as true” with “made” and adding reference to Sec. 53a-157b in Subdiv. (2) and adding provision re consulting agreement entered into in connection with contract and adding “or attach” in Subdiv. (3), effective July 1, 2022.

Sec. 4a-82. Janitorial work program for persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage. Inclusion of contractual services in program. (a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Person with a disability” means any individual with a disability, excluding blindness, as such term is applied by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Developmental Services, the Department of Aging and Disability Services or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and who is certified by the Department of Aging and Disability Services as qualified to participate in a qualified partnership, as described in subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section;

(2) “Vocational rehabilitation service” means any goods and services necessary to render a person with a disability employable, in accordance with Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC 701 et seq., as amended from time to time;

(3) “Community rehabilitation program” means any entity or individual that provides directly for or facilitates the provision of vocational rehabilitation services to, or provides services in connection with, the recruiting, hiring or managing of the employment of persons with disabilities based on an individualized plan and budget for each worker with a disability;

(4) “Commercial contractor” means any for-profit proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company, trust, association or other privately owned entity that employs persons to perform janitorial work or contractual services, and that enters into contracts to provide janitorial services or contractual services;

(5) “Janitorial work” means work performed in connection with the care or maintenance of buildings, including, but not limited to, work customarily performed by cleaners, porters, janitors and handypersons;

(6) “Janitorial contract” means a contract or subcontract to perform janitorial work for a department or agency of the state;

(7) “Person with a disadvantage” means any individual who is determined by the Labor Department, or its designee, to be eligible for employment services in accordance with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or whose verified individual gross annual income during the previous calendar year was not greater than two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level for a family of four;

(8) “Awarding authority” means the Commissioner of Administrative Services, Chief Court Administrator of the Judicial Branch and president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, as applicable; and

(9) “Contractual services” includes, but is not limited to, any and all laundry and cleaning services, mail supply room staffing, data entry, telephone call center staffing and other services specified by the Commissioner of Administrative Services under subsection (b) of this section.

(b) (1) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall establish a program to create and expand janitorial work job opportunities for persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage. The program shall create full-time jobs or full-time equivalents at standard wage rates for persons with disabilities and persons with disadvantages. The Judicial Branch and Board of Regents for Higher Education may participate in such program.

(2) The Commissioner of Administrative Services may expand such program to include contractual services that the commissioner deems appropriate and shall post a list of such services on the department's Internet web site.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, under such program, the awarding authority may award janitorial contracts or contracts for contractual services pursuant to the following procedures: (1) Upon receipt of a request for janitorial services or a contractual service that the Commissioner of Administrative Services has deemed appropriate for inclusion in the program by an agency or department of the state, the awarding authority shall notify each qualified partnership, as described in subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section, of such request and invite each qualified partnership in good standing to submit a bid proposal for such janitorial contract or service contract to the awarding authority in a manner and form as prescribed by the awarding authority; (2) in the event that only one such qualified partnership submits a bid or proposal for such janitorial or service contract, the awarding authority shall award such contract to such qualified partnership, provided such bid or proposal does not exceed the fair market value for such contract, as determined by the awarding authority; (3) if more than one qualified partnership submits a bid or proposal, the awarding authority shall award the contract to the lowest responsible qualified bidder or most advantageous proposer, as described in section 4a-59; and (4) in the event that a qualified partnership does not submit a bid or proposal or is not awarded such contract, the awarding authority shall award such contract in accordance with the provisions of sections 4a-52a, 4a-59, 10a-151b and 17a-796, or title 51, as applicable. No awarding authority shall award a contract under the provisions of this subsection at a site where employees are employed pursuant to an existing collective bargaining agreement or where a contract has been awarded pursuant to section 17a-796 unless a contract has been previously awarded to a qualified partnership pursuant to this section at such site.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Administrative Services, Chief Court Administrator or president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities as established in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, may not be delegated to an outside vendor.

(e) The Connecticut Community Providers Association shall designate a commercial contractor and a community rehabilitation program as a “qualified partnership” whenever the following criteria have been established: (1) Such commercial contractor has entered into a binding agreement with such community rehabilitation program in which such contractor agrees to fill not less than one-third of the jobs from a successful bid for a janitorial or service contract under the program established in subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section with persons with disabilities and not less than one-third of such jobs with persons with a disadvantage; (2) such contractor employs not less than two hundred persons who perform janitorial work or contractual services in the state; and (3) such contractor certifies, in writing, that it will pay the standard wage to employees, including persons with disabilities, under such janitorial or service contract. Any partnership between a commercial contractor and a community rehabilitation program that has been denied designation as a qualified partnership may appeal such denial, in writing, to the Commissioner of Administrative Services and said commissioner may, after review of such appeal, designate such program as a qualified partnership.

(f) The requirement established in subsection (e) of this section to fill not less than one-third of the jobs from a successful bid for a janitorial or service contract with persons with disabilities and one-third with persons with a disadvantage shall be met whenever such contractor employs the requisite number of persons with disabilities and persons with a disadvantage throughout the entirety of its operations in the state provided any persons with disabilities employed by such contractor prior to the commencement date of any such contract shall not be counted for the purpose of determining the number of persons with disabilities employed by such contractor.

(g) The number of persons with disabilities and the number of persons with a disadvantage that such contractor is required to employ pursuant to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section shall be employed not later than six months after the commencement of janitorial work or the contractual service under the terms of any contract awarded pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section, provided such contractor shall fill any vacancy for janitorial work or contractual service that arises during the first six months of any such contract with persons with disabilities and persons with disadvantages.

(h) The Connecticut Community Providers Association shall develop an application process and submit a list of employees who have applied to participate in a partnership to the Department of Aging and Disability Services for certification. Such association shall maintain a list of certified employees who are persons with disabilities and community rehabilitation programs.

(i) Any qualified partnership awarded a janitorial or service contract pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section shall provide to the Connecticut Community Providers Association, not later than six months after the commencement date of such contract and annually thereafter, a list of the persons with disabilities and persons with a disadvantage employed by such contractor that includes the date of hire and employment location for each such person. Such association shall certify annually to the Department of Administrative Services, the Judicial Branch or the Board of Regents for Higher Education, as applicable, in such manner and form as prescribed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, Chief Court Administrator or the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, that the requisite number of persons with disabilities for such contract continue to be employed by such contractor in positions equivalent to those created under such contract and have been integrated into the general workforce of such contractor.

(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, the responsibilities of the Department of Aging and Disability Services, as established in subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section, may not be delegated to an outside vendor.

(k) The Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to undertake the certification requirements established pursuant to subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of this section.

(l) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall authorize certified small and minority businesses to participate in such program.

(m) The joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to government administration shall study the effectiveness of such program, including, but not limited to, the effectiveness of such program to create integrated work settings for persons with disabilities. Additionally, said committee shall study ways to provide incentives for municipalities and businesses to utilize such program if such program is determined by the committee to be effective.

(n) Each exclusive contract awarded prior to October 1, 2013, pursuant to section 17a-796 shall remain in effect until such time as either party terminates the contract in such party's own best interest, with not less than sixty days written notice. Each such contract may be amended to include updated terms and conditions, but shall not allow for any price increases except statutory or mandated increases to the minimum wage and standard wage. If either party exercises his or her right to terminate any such contract, the next contract solicitation may be awarded pursuant to this section or sections 4a-59 and 17a-796. Additionally, any new janitorial contract awarded pursuant to section 17a-796 shall be limited to not more than four full-time employees per contract.

(o) Any person employed under a janitorial contract let: (1) On or before October 1, 2006, or thereafter if such contract constitutes a successor contract to such janitorial contract let on or before October 1, 2006, and (2) pursuant to section 4a-57 or 10a-151b or by the judicial or legislative departments or pursuant to subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section shall have the same rights conferred upon an employee by section 31-57g for the duration of the program described in subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any new janitorial contract with not more than four full-time employees per contract, as described in subsection (n) of this section.

(p) If a position is not available at a job site for a janitorial or service contract awarded pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and a person with a disability or a person with a disadvantage is placed at an alternate job site in the operations of the contractor pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, such person with a disability or person with a disadvantage shall be paid the wage applicable at such alternate site, provided when a position at the job site for a janitorial or service contract awarded pursuant to subsection (c) of this section becomes available, such person with a disability or person with a disadvantage shall be transferred to the job site for a janitorial or service contract awarded pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and shall be paid the applicable standard wage for such site.

(q) If a person with a disability or a person with a disadvantage is transferred pursuant to subsection (p) of this section and such person subsequently leaves such position, the position shall be filled with another person with a disability or person with a disadvantage.

(P.A. 06-129, S. 1–4; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a); P.A. 10-189, S. 1, 2; P.A. 11-44, S. 51; P.A. 12-119, S. 6; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 32; P.A. 13-227, S. 1; P.A. 14-188, S. 12; P.A. 16-15, S. 10; 16-169, S. 24; P.A. 18-72, S. 17; P.A. 19-157, S. 9, 10.)

History: Pursuant to P.A. 07-73 “Department of Mental Retardation” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Developmental Services”, effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 10-189 amended Subsec. (b) to extend term of pilot program from 4 to 7 years and amended Subsec. (o) to add “exclusive” re contract awarded, effective June 8, 2010; P.A. 11-44 amended Subsecs. (a)(1), (i) and (k) to replace Bureau of Rehabilitation Services with Bureau of Rehabilitative Services and make conforming changes, amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision allowing Commissioner of Administrative Services to consult with director of Bureau of Rehabilitative Services and amended Subsec. (l) by replacing Commissioner of Social Services with director of Bureau of Rehabilitative Services, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-119 made a technical change in Subsec. (m), effective June 15, 2012; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 amended Subsecs. (a)(1), (i) and (k) by replacing “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” with “Department of Rehabilitation Services” and amended Subsecs. (b) and (l) by replacing “director of the Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” with “Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-227 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (8) defining “awarding authority”, amended Subsec. (b) to delete references to program being a pilot program with a term of 7 years involving 4 projects creating at least 60 jobs and having total market value of $3,000,000, to delete provision authorizing Commissioner of Administrative Services to consult with other commissioners and to add provision re participation by Judicial Branch and Board of Regents for Higher Education, amended Subsec. (c) to substitute “awarding authority” for references to Commissioner of Administrative Services, to add references to proposals and most advantageous proposer, to add reference to Secs. 4a-52a, 10a-151b and title 51, as applicable, and to add provision re prohibition for award at site subject to collective bargaining agreement or where contract awarded under Sec. 17b-656, amended Subsec. (d) to add reference to Chief Court Administrator and president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, deleted former Subsec. (e) re regulations, redesignated existing Subsecs. (f) to (p) as Subsecs. (e) to (o), amended redesignated Subsec. (i) to add requirement for annual updating of list of persons employed by contractor and to add references to Judicial Branch, Chief Court Administrator, Board of Regents for Higher Education and president thereof, amended redesignated Subsec. (n) to replace provisions re exclusive contracts remaining in effect with no changes for fair market value with provisions re termination in party's own best interest, amending contract and contract solicitation after termination, added new Subsec. (p) re placing person at alternate job site, added Subsec. (q) re filling position after transfer under Subsec. (p), and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 14-188 amended Subsec. (a)(4) to change defined term from “commercial janitorial contractor” to “commercial contractor” and add references to contractual services therein, inserted Subsec. (a)(9) defining “contractual services”, designated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (b)(1) and inserted Subsec. (b)(2) re expansion of program to include contractual services, amended Subsecs. (c), (e) to (g), (i) and (p) to add references to “service contract”, amended Subsecs. (c), (e) and (g) to add references to “contractual services” and made conforming changes; P.A. 16-15 amended Subsecs. (a)(8) and (d) by replacing “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” with “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, effective July 1, 2016; pursuant to P.A. 16-169, “Workforce Investment Act” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act” in Subsec. (a)(7); P.A. 18-72 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to replace “Veterans' Administration” with “United States Department of Veterans Affairs”; P.A. 19-157 amended Subsecs. (a), (h) and (j) to replace “Department of Rehabilitation Services” with “Department of Aging and Disability Services” and amended Subsec. (k) to replace “Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services” with “Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services”.

Secs. 4a-83 to 4a-99. Reserved for future use.