It is the intent of this chapter to promote open competition and transparency for all contracts for goods and services entered into by state agencies, unless specifically exempted under this chapter. It is further the intent of this chapter to centralize within one agency the authority and responsibility for the development and oversight of policies related to state procurement and contracting. To ensure the highest ethical standards, proper accounting for contract expenditures, and for ease of public review, it is further the intent to centralize the location of information about state procurements and contracts. It is also the intent of the legislature to provide state agency contract data to the public in a searchable manner.

In addition, the legislature intends that the state develop procurement policies, procedures, and materials that encourage and facilitate state agency purchase of goods and services from Washington small businesses.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Agency" means any state office or activity of the executive and judicial branches of state government, including state agencies, departments, offices, divisions, boards, commissions, institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, and correctional and other types of institutions. "Agency" does not include a comprehensive cancer center participating in a collaborative arrangement as defined in RCW 28B.10.930 that is operated in conformance with RCW 28B.10.930.

(2) "Bid" means an offer, proposal, or quote for goods or services in response to a solicitation issued for such goods or services by the department or an agency of Washington state government.

(3) "Bidder" means an individual or entity who submits a bid, quotation, or proposal in response to a solicitation issued for such goods or services by the department or an agency of Washington state government.

(4) "Client services" means services provided directly to agency clients including, but not limited to, medical and dental services, employment and training programs, residential care, and subsidized housing.

(5) "Community rehabilitation program of the department of social and health services" means any entity that:

(a) Is registered as a nonprofit corporation with the secretary of state; and

(b) Is recognized by the department of social and health services, division of vocational rehabilitation as eligible to do business as a community rehabilitation program.

(6) "Competitive solicitation" means a documented formal process providing an equal and open opportunity to bidders and culminating in a selection based on predetermined criteria.

(7) "Contractor" means an individual or entity awarded a contract with an agency to perform a service or provide goods.

(8) "Debar" means to prohibit a contractor, individual, or other entity from submitting a bid, having a bid considered, or entering into a state contract during a specified period of time as set forth in a debarment order.

(9) "Department" means the department of enterprise services.

(10) "Director" means the director of the department of enterprise services.

(11) "Estimated useful life" of an item means the estimated time from the date of acquisition to the date of replacement or disposal, determined in any reasonable manner.

(12) "Goods" means products, materials, supplies, or equipment provided by a contractor.

(13) "In-state business" means a business that has its principal office located in Washington.

(14) "Life-cycle cost" means the total cost of an item to the state over its estimated useful life, including costs of selection, acquisition, operation, maintenance, and where applicable, disposal, as far as these costs can reasonably be determined, minus the salvage value at the end of its estimated useful life.

(15) "Master contracts" means a contract for specific goods or services, or both, that is solicited and established by the department in accordance with procurement laws and rules on behalf of and for general use by agencies as specified by the department.

(16) "Microbusiness" means any business entity, including a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, that: (a) Is owned and operated independently from all other businesses; and (b) has a gross revenue of less than $1,000,000 annually as reported on its federal tax return or on its return filed with the department of revenue.

(17) "Minibusiness" means any business entity, including a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, that: (a) Is owned and operated independently from all other businesses; and (b) has a gross revenue of less than $3,000,000, but $1,000,000 or more annually as reported on its federal tax return or on its return filed with the department of revenue.

(18) "Polychlorinated biphenyls" means any polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and homologs.

(19) "Practical quantification limit" means the lowest concentration that can be reliably measured within specified limits of precision, accuracy, representativeness, completeness, and comparability during routine laboratory operating conditions.

(20) "Purchase" means the acquisition of goods or services, including the leasing or renting of goods.

(21) "Services" means labor, work, analysis, or similar activities provided by a contractor to accomplish a specific scope of work.

(22) "Small business" means an in-state business, including a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, that:

(a) Certifies, under penalty of perjury, that it is owned and operated independently from all other businesses and has either:

(i) Fifty or fewer employees; or

(ii) A gross revenue of less than $7,000,000 annually as reported on its federal income tax return or its return filed with the department of revenue over the previous three consecutive years; or

(b) Is certified with the office of women and minority business enterprises under chapter 39.19 RCW.

(23) "Sole source" means a contractor providing goods or services of such a unique nature or sole availability that the contractor is clearly and justifiably the only practicable source to provide the goods or services.

(24) "Washington grown" has the definition in RCW 15.64.060.

Findings—Intent—2022 c 71: See note following RCW 28B.10.930.

Findings—2014 c 135: See note following RCW 39.26.280.

(1)(a) A state officer or employee of an agency who seeks to acquire goods or services or who participates in those contractual matters is subject to the requirements in RCW 42.52.150.

(b) A contractor who contracts with an agency to perform services related to the acquisition of goods and services for or on behalf of the state is subject to the requirements in RCW 42.52.150.

(2) No person or entity who seeks or may seek a contract with a state agency may give, loan, transfer, or deliver to any person something of economic value for which receipt of such item would cause a state officer or employee to be in a violation of RCW 42.52.040, 42.52.110, 42.52.120, 42.52.140, or 42.52.150.

(1) Records related to state procurements are public records subject to disclosure to the extent provided in chapter 42.56 RCW except as provided in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) Bid submissions and bid evaluations are exempt from disclosure until the agency announces the apparent successful bidder.

Agencies that are authorized or directed to establish a board, commission, council, committee, or other similar group made up of volunteers to advise the activities and management of the agency are prohibited from entering into contracts with any or all volunteer members as a means to reimburse or otherwise pay members of such board, commission, council, committee, or other similar group for the work performed as part of the entity, except where payment is specifically authorized by statute.

(1) In addition to the powers and duties provided in chapter 43.19 RCW, the department shall make available goods and services to support state agencies, and may enter into agreements with any other local or federal governmental agency or entity or a public benefit nonprofit organization, in compliance with RCW 39.34.055, and any tribes located in the state, to furnish such products and services as deemed appropriate by both parties.

(2) The department shall ensure full cost recovery from state agencies, other local or federal governmental agency or entity, public benefit nonprofit organizations, or any tribes located in the state, for activities performed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. Cost recovery must ensure that the department is reimbursed its full cost for providing the goods and services furnished as determined by the department. Cost recovery may be collected through the state agency, other governmental entity, nonprofit organization, or through the contractor.

(3) All governmental entities of this state may enter into agreements under this section with the department, unless otherwise prohibited.

(1) On behalf of the state, the department may participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of any goods or services with one or more states, state agencies, local governments, local government agencies, federal agencies, or tribes located in the state, in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. The cooperative purchasing may include, but is not limited to, joint or multiparty contracts between the entities, and master contracts or convenience contracts that are made available to other public agencies.

(2) All cooperative purchasing conducted under this chapter must be through contracts awarded through a competitive solicitation process.

A convenience contract is a contract for specific goods or services, or both, that is solicited and established in accordance with procurement laws and rules for use by a specified group of agencies. A convenience contract is not available for general use and must be approved by the department. Convenience contracts are not intended to replace or supersede master contracts as defined in this chapter.

(1) The director is responsible for the development and oversight of policy for the procurement of goods and services by all state agencies under this chapter. When establishing policies, standards, and procedures, the director shall account for differentiation in procurement practices and needs among state agencies and strive to establish policies, standards, and procedures that promote greater efficiency in procurement.

(2) The director is authorized to adopt rules, policies, and guidelines governing the procurement, contracting, and contract management of any and all goods and services procured by state agencies under this chapter.

(3) The director or designee is the sole authority to enter into master contracts on behalf of the state.

The director shall:

(1) Establish overall state policies, standards, and procedures regarding the procurement of goods and services by all state agencies;

(2) Develop policies and standards for the use of credit cards or similar methods to make purchases;

(3) Establish procurement processes for information technology goods and services, using technology standards and policies established by Washington technology solutions under chapter 43.105 RCW;

(4) Enter into contracts or delegate the authority to enter into contracts on behalf of the state to facilitate the purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise acquire all goods and services and equipment needed for the support, maintenance, and use of all state agencies, except as provided in RCW 39.26.100;

(5) Have authority to delegate to agencies authorization to purchase goods and services. The authorization must specify restrictions as to dollar amount or to specific types of goods and services, based on a risk assessment process developed by the department. Acceptance of the purchasing authorization by an agency does not relieve the agency from conformance with this chapter or from policies established by the director. Also, the director may not delegate to a state agency the authorization to purchase goods and services if the agency is not in substantial compliance with overall procurement policies as established by the director;

(6) Develop procurement policies and procedures, such as unbundled contracting and subcontracting, that encourage and facilitate the purchase of goods and services from Washington small businesses, microbusinesses, and minibusinesses, and minority and women-owned businesses to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with international trade agreement commitments;

(7) Develop and implement an enterprise system for electronic procurement;

(8) Provide for a commodity classification system and provide for the adoption of goods and services commodity standards;

(9) Establish overall state policy for compliance by all agencies regarding:

(a) Food procurement procedures and materials that encourage and facilitate the purchase of Washington grown food by state agencies and institutions to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with international trade agreement commitments; and

(b) Policies requiring all food contracts to include a plan to maximize to the extent practicable and consistent with international trade agreement commitments the availability of Washington grown food purchased through the contract;

(10) Develop guidelines and criteria for the purchase of vehicles, high gas mileage vehicles, and alternate vehicle fuels and systems, equipment, and materials, that reduce overall energy-related costs and energy use by the state, including investigations into all opportunities to aggregate the purchasing of clean technologies by state and local governments, and including the requirement that new passenger vehicles purchased by the state meet the minimum standards for passenger automobile fuel economy established by the United States secretary of transportation pursuant to the energy policy and conservation act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 2002); and

(11) Develop and enact rules to implement the provisions of this chapter.

(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in any manner to the operation of the state legislature except as requested by the legislature.

(2) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to the contracting for services, equipment, and activities that are necessary to establish, operate, or manage the state data center, including architecture, design, engineering, installation, and operation of the facility, that are approved by the technology services board or the acquisition of proprietary software, equipment, and information technology services necessary for or part of the provision of services offered by Washington technology solutions.

(3) Primary authority for the purchase of specialized equipment, and instructional and research material, for their own use rests with the institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

(4) Universities operating hospitals with approval from the director, as the agent for state hospitals as defined in RCW 72.23.010, and for health care programs provided in state correctional institutions as defined in RCW 72.65.010(3) and veterans' institutions as defined in RCW 72.36.010 and 72.36.070, may make purchases for hospital operation by participating in contracts for materials, supplies, and equipment entered into by nonprofit cooperative hospital group purchasing organizations if documented to be more cost-effective.

(5) Primary authority for the purchase of materials, supplies, and equipment, for resale to other than public agencies, rests with the state agency concerned.

(6) The authority for the purchase of insurance and bonds rests with the risk manager under RCW 43.19.769, except for institutions of higher education that choose to exercise independent purchasing authority under RCW 28B.10.029.

(7) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to information technology purchases by state agencies, other than institutions of higher education and agencies of the judicial branch, if (a) the purchase is less than one hundred thousand dollars, (b) the initial purchase is approved by the chief information officer of the state, and (c) the agency director and the chief information officer of the state jointly prepare a public document providing a detailed justification for the expenditure.

(8) The authority to purchase interpreter services on behalf of applicants and recipients of public assistance who are sensory-impaired rests with the department of social and health services and the health care authority.

Finding—Intent—2019 c 152: "The legislature finds that recent legislation to alter the procurement of spoken language interpreter services and to allow spoken language interpreters to elect collective bargaining representation also removed the authority of department of social and health services to procure interpreter services on behalf of applicants and recipients of public assistance who are sensory-impaired. The legislature intends to reinstate that authority." [ 2019 c 152 s 1.]

Effective date—2019 c 152: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 26, 2019]." [ 2019 c 152 s 3.]

Intent—Conflict with federal requirements—2018 c 253: See notes following RCW 74.04.025.

The department of corrections shall be exempt from the following provisions of this chapter in respect to goods or services purchased or sold pursuant to the operation of correctional industries: RCW * 43.19.180, * 43.19.190, * 43.19.1901, * 43.19.1905, * 43.19.1906, * 43.19.1908, * 43.19.1911, * 43.19.1913, * 43.19.1915, 43.19.1917, 43.19.1919, 43.19.1921, and * 43.19.200.

*Reviser's note: RCW 43.19.180, 43.19.190, 43.19.1901, 43.19.1905, 43.19.1906, 43.19.1908, 43.19.1911, 43.19.1913, 43.19.1915, and 43.19.200 were repealed by 2012 c 224 s 29, effective January 1, 2013.

Effective date—Purpose—2011 1st sp.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.19.003.

Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.

(1) The department must provide expertise and training on best practices for state procurement.

(2) The department must establish either training or certification programs, or both, to ensure consistency in procurement practices for employees authorized to perform procurement functions under the provisions of this chapter. When establishing training or certification programs, the department may approve existing training or certification programs at state agencies. When establishing programs or approving existing programs, the department shall work with agencies with existing training programs to ensure coordination and minimize additional costs associated with training requirements.

(3) Beginning July 1, 2013, state agencies must require agency employees responsible for developing, executing, or managing procurements or contracts, or both, to complete department-approved training or certification programs, or both. Beginning July 1, 2015, no agency employee may execute or manage contracts unless the employee has met the training or certification requirements or both as set by the department. Any request for exception to this requirement must be submitted to the director for approval before the employee or group of employees executes or manages contracts.

(1) Insofar as practicable, all purchases of or contracts for goods and services must be based on a competitive solicitation process. This process may include electronic or web-based solicitations, bids, and signatures. This requirement also applies to procurement of goods and services executed by agencies under delegated authority granted in accordance with RCW 39.26.090 or under RCW 28B.10.029.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section applies to contract amendments that substantially change the scope of work of the original contract or substantially increase the value of the original contract.

All contracts must be entered into pursuant to competitive solicitation, except for:

(1) Emergency contracts;

(2) Sole source contracts that comply with the provisions of RCW 39.26.140;

(3) Direct buy purchases, as designated by the director. The director shall establish policies to define criteria for direct buy purchases. These criteria may be adjusted to accommodate special market conditions and to promote market diversity for the benefit of the citizens of the state of Washington;

(4) Purchases involving special facilities, services, or market conditions, in which instances of direct negotiation is in the best interest of the state;

(5) Purchases from master contracts established by the department or an agency authorized by the department;

(6) Client services contracts;

(7) Other specific contracts or classes or groups of contracts exempted from the competitive solicitation process when the director determines that a competitive solicitation process is not appropriate or cost-effective;

(8) Off-contract purchases of Washington grown food when such food is not available from Washington sources through an existing contract. However, Washington grown food purchased under this subsection must be of an equivalent or better quality than similar food available through the contract and must be able to be paid from the agency's existing budget. This requirement also applies to purchases and contracts for purchases executed by state agencies, including institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, under delegated authority granted in accordance with this chapter or under RCW 28B.10.029;

(9) Contracts awarded to companies that furnish a service where the tariff is established by the utilities and transportation commission or other public entity;

(10) Intergovernmental agreements awarded to any governmental entity, whether federal, state, or local and any department, division, or subdivision thereof;

(11) Contracts for services that are necessary to the conduct of collaborative research if the use of a specific contractor is mandated by the funding source as a condition of granting funds;

(12) Contracts for architectural and engineering services as defined in RCW 39.80.020, which shall be entered into under chapter 39.80 RCW;

(13) Contracts for the employment of expert witnesses for the purposes of litigation;

(14) Contracts for bank supervision authorized under RCW 30A.38.040;

(15) Contracts for the purchase of opioid overdose reversal medication authorized under RCW 70.14.170; and

(16) Contracts for investigators awarded by the office of independent investigations as authorized under RCW 43.102.050.

Finding—Intent—2021 c 318: See note following RCW 43.102.020.

Rules—2021 c 273 ss 7-12: See note following RCW 70.14.170.

Findings—Intent—2021 c 273: See note following RCW 70.41.480.

(1) An agency may make emergency purchases as defined in subsection (4) of this section. When an emergency purchase is made, the agency head shall submit written notification of the purchase within 10 business days of the purchase to the director. This notification must contain a description of the purchase, a description of the emergency and the circumstances leading up to the emergency, and an explanation of why the circumstances required an emergency purchase.

(2) Emergency contracts must be submitted to the department and made available for public inspection within 10 business days following the commencement of work or execution of the contract, whichever occurs first.

(3) The department may authorize exceptions to this section due to exigent circumstances.

(4) As used in this section, "emergency" means a set of unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the agency that either:

(a) Present a real, immediate, and extreme threat to the proper performance of essential functions; or

(b) May reasonably be expected to result in material loss or damage to property, bodily injury, or loss of life, if immediate action is not taken.

(1) Agencies must submit sole source contracts to the department and make the contracts available for public inspection not fewer than 15 working days before the proposed starting date of the contract. Agencies must provide documented justification for sole source contracts to the department when the contract is submitted, and must include evidence that the agency posted the contract opportunity at a minimum on the state's enterprise vendor registration and bid notification system.

(2) The department must approve sole source contracts before any such contract becomes binding and before any services may be performed or goods provided under the contract. These requirements shall also apply to all sole source contracts except as otherwise exempted by the director.

(3) The director may provide an agency an exemption from the requirements of this section for a contract or contracts. Requests for exemptions must be submitted to the director in writing.

(4) Contracts awarded by institutions of higher education from nonstate funds are exempt from the requirements of this section.

(1) Agencies must provide public notice for all competitive solicitations. Agencies must post all contract opportunities on the state's enterprise vendor registration and bid notification system. In addition, agencies may notify contractors and potential bidders by sending notices by mail, electronic transmission, newspaper advertisements, or other means as may be appropriate.

(2) Agencies should try to anticipate changes in a requirement before the bid submittal date and to provide reasonable notice to all prospective bidders of any resulting modification or cancellation. If, in the opinion of the agency, it is not possible to provide reasonable notice, the submittal date for receipt of bids may be postponed and all bidders notified.

(1)(a) After bids that are submitted in response to a competitive solicitation process are reviewed by the awarding agency, the awarding agency may:

(i) Reject all bids and rebid or cancel the competitive solicitation;

(ii) Request best and final offers from responsive and responsible bidders; or

(iii) Award the purchase or contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

(b) The agency may award one or more contracts from a competitive solicitation.

(2) In determining whether the bidder is a responsible bidder, the agency must consider the following elements:

(a) The ability, capacity, and skill of the bidder to perform the contract or provide the service required;

(b) The character, integrity, reputation, judgment, experience, and efficiency of the bidder;

(c) Whether the bidder can perform the contract within the time specified;

(d) The quality of performance of previous contracts or services;

(e) The previous and existing compliance by the bidder with laws relating to the contract or services;

(f) Whether, within the three-year period immediately preceding the date of the bid solicitation, the bidder has been determined by a final and binding citation and notice of assessment issued by the department of labor and industries or through a civil judgment entered by a court of limited or general jurisdiction to have willfully violated, as defined in RCW 49.48.082, any provision of chapter 49.46, 49.48, or 49.52 RCW; and

(g) Such other information as may be secured having a bearing on the decision to award the contract.

(3) In determining the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, an agency may consider best value criteria, including but not limited to:

(a) Whether the bid satisfies the needs of the state as specified in the solicitation documents;

(b) Whether the bid encourages diverse contractor participation;

(c) Whether the bid provides competitive pricing, economies, and efficiencies;

(d) Whether the bid considers human health and environmental impacts;

(e) Whether the bid appropriately weighs cost and noncost considerations; and

(f) Life-cycle cost.

(4) The solicitation document must clearly set forth the requirements and criteria that the agency will apply in evaluating bid submissions. Before award of a contract, a bidder shall submit to the contracting agency a signed statement in accordance with chapter 5.50 RCW verifying under penalty of perjury that the bidder is in compliance with the responsible bidder criteria requirement of subsection (2)(f) of this section. A contracting agency may award a contract in reasonable reliance upon such a sworn statement.

(5) The awarding agency may at its discretion reject the bid of any contractor who has failed to perform satisfactorily on a previous contract with the state.

(6) After reviewing all bid submissions, an agency may enter into negotiations with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in order to determine if the bid may be improved. An agency may not use this negotiation opportunity to permit a bidder to change a nonresponsive bid into a responsive bid.

(7) The procuring agency must enter into the state's enterprise vendor registration and bid notification system the name of each bidder and an indication as to the successful bidder.

Findings—2017 c 258: See note following RCW 39.04.350.

(1) All agencies that have original or delegated procurement authority for goods or services must have a clear and transparent complaint process. The complaint process must provide for the complaint to be submitted and response provided before the deadline for bid submissions.

(2) All agencies that have original or delegated procurement authority for goods or services must have a clear and transparent protest process. The protest process must include a protest period after the apparent successful bidder is announced but before the contract is signed.

(3) The director may grant authority for an agency to sign a contract before the protest process is completed due to exigent circumstances.

(1) The department must adopt uniform policies and procedures for the effective and efficient management of contracts by all state agencies. The policies and procedures must, at a minimum, include:

(a) Precontract procedures for selecting potential contractors based on their qualifications and ability to perform, including procedures to ensure compliance with chapter 39.19 RCW, and providing for participation of minority and women-owned businesses;

(b) Model complaint and protest procedures;

(c) Alternative dispute resolution processes;

(d) Incorporation of performance measures and measurable benchmarks in contracts;

(e) Model contract terms to ensure contract performance and compliance with state and federal standards, including terms to facilitate recovery of the costs of employee staff time that must be expended to bring a contract into substantial compliance, and terms required under RCW 41.06.142;

(f) Executing contracts using electronic signatures;

(g) Criteria for contract amendments;

(h) Postcontract procedures;

(i) Procedures and criteria for terminating contracts for cause or otherwise, including procedures and criteria for terminating performance-based contracts that are not achieving performance standards;

(j) A requirement that agencies, departments, and institutions of higher education monitor performance-based contracts, including contracts awarded pursuant to RCW 41.06.142, to ensure that all aspects of the contract are being properly performed and that performance standards are being achieved; and

(k) Any other subject related to effective and efficient contract management.

(2) An agency may not enter into a contract under which the contractor could charge additional costs to the agency, the department, the joint legislative audit and review committee, or the state auditor for access to data generated under the contract. A contractor under such a contract must provide access to data generated under the contract to the contracting agency, the joint legislative audit and review committee, and the state auditor.

(3) To the extent practicable, agencies should enter into performance-based contracts. Performance-based contracts identify expected deliverables and performance measures or outcomes. Performance-based contracts also use appropriate techniques, which may include but are not limited to, either consequences or incentives or both to ensure that agreed upon value to the state is received. Payment for goods and services under performance-based contracts should be contingent on the contractor achieving performance outcomes.

(4) An agency and contractor may execute a contract using electronic signatures.

(5) As used in subsection (2) of this section, "data" includes all information that supports the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the contractor's reports, including computer models and the methodology for those models.

Intent—Finding—Application—2020 c 269: See notes following RCW 41.06.142.

When any bid has been accepted, the agency may require of the successful bidder a bond payable to the state in such amount with such surety or sureties as determined by the agency, conditioned that he or she will fully, faithfully, and accurately perform the terms of the contract into which he or she has entered. Bidders who regularly do business with the state shall be permitted to file with the agency an annual performance bond in an amount established by the agency and such annual bond shall be acceptable as surety in lieu of furnishing individual bonds. The agency may also require bidders to provide bid bonds conditioned that if a bidder is awarded the contract the bidder will enter into and execute the contract, protest bonds, or other bonds the agency deems necessary. Agencies must adhere to the policies developed by the department regarding the use of protest bonds. All bonds must be filed with the agency on a form acceptable to the agency. Any surety issuing a bond must meet the qualification requirements established by the agency.

(1)(a) The director shall provide notice to the contractor of the director's intent to either fine or debar with the specific reason for either the fine or debarment. The department must establish the debarment and fining processes by rule.

(b) After reasonable notice to the contractor and reasonable opportunity for that contractor to be heard, the director has the authority to debar a contractor for cause from consideration for award of contracts. The debarment must be for a period of not more than three years.

(2) The director may either fine or debar a contractor based on a finding of one or more of the following causes:

(a) Conviction 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;

(b) Conviction or a final determination in a civil action under state or federal statutes of fraud, embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property, violation of the federal false claims act, 31 U.S.C. Sec. 3729 et seq., or the state medicaid fraud false claims act, chapter 74.66 RCW, or any other offense indicating a lack of business integrity or business honesty that currently, seriously, and directly affects responsibility as a state contractor;

(c) Conviction under state or federal antitrust statutes arising out of the submission of bids or proposals;

(d) Two or more violations within the previous five years of the national labor relations act as determined by the national labor relations board or court of competent jurisdiction;

(e) Violation of contract provisions, as set forth in this subsection, of a character that is regarded by the director to be so serious as to justify debarment action:

(i) Deliberate failure without good cause to perform in accordance with the specifications or within the time limit provided in the contract; or

(ii) A recent record of failure to perform or of unsatisfactory performance in accordance with the terms of one or more contracts, however the failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance caused by acts beyond the control of the contractor may not be considered to be a basis for debarment;

(f) Violation of ethical standards set forth in RCW 39.26.020;

(g) Any other cause the director determines to be so serious and compelling as to affect responsibility as a state contractor, including debarment by another governmental entity for any cause listed in regulations; and

(h) The failure to comply with a provision in a state master contract or other agreement with a state agency that requires equality among its workers by ensuring similarly employed individuals are compensated as equals.

(3) The director must issue a written decision to debar. The decision must:

(a) State the reasons for the action taken; and

(b) Inform the debarred contractor of the contractor's rights to judicial or administrative review.

Intent—Finding—Application—2020 c 269: See notes following RCW 41.06.142.

Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 1: See note following RCW 43.41.455.

(1) Agencies must annually submit to the department a list of all contracts that the agency has entered into or renewed. "Contracts," for the purposes of this section, does not include purchase orders. The department must maintain a publicly available list of all contracts entered into by agencies during each fiscal year, except that contracts for the employment of expert witnesses for the purposes of litigation shall not be made publicly available to the extent that information is exempt from disclosure under state law. Except as otherwise exempt, the data must identify the contracting agency, the contractor, the purpose of the contract, effective dates and periods of performance, the cost of the contract and funding source, any substantive modifications to the contract, and whether the contract was competitively procured or awarded on a sole source basis.

(2) The department may conduct audits of its master contracts and convenience contracts to ensure that the contractor is in compliance with the contract terms and conditions, including but not limited to providing only the goods and services specified in the contract at the contract price.

The state auditor and the attorney general must annually by November 30th of each year, provide a collaborative report of contract audit and investigative findings, enforcement actions, and the status of agency resolution to the governor and the policy and fiscal committees of the legislature.

The state agencies and departments are hereby authorized to purchase products and/or services manufactured or provided by community rehabilitation programs of the department of social and health services.

Such purchases shall be at the fair market price of such products and services as determined by the department of enterprise services. To determine the fair market price the department shall use the last comparable bid on the products and/or services or in the alternative the last price paid for the products and/or services. The increased cost of labor, materials, and other documented costs since the last comparable bid or the last price paid are additional cost factors which shall be considered in determining fair market price. Upon the establishment of the fair market price as provided for in this section the department is hereby empowered to negotiate directly for the purchase of products or services with officials in charge of the community rehabilitation programs of the department of social and health services.

Effective date—Purpose—2011 1st sp.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.19.003.

(1) State agencies that are purchasing wireless devices or services must make such purchases through the state master contract, unless the state agency provides to Washington technology solutions evidence that the state agency is securing its wireless devices or services from another source for a lower cost than through participation in the state master contract.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "state agency" means any office, department, board, commission, or other unit of state government, but does not include a unit of state government headed by a statewide elected official, an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, the student achievement council, the state board for community and technical colleges, or agencies of the legislative or judicial branches of state government.

Effective date—2012 c 229 ss 101, 117, 401, 402, 501 through 594, 601 through 609, 701 through 708, 801 through 821, 902, and 904: See note following RCW 28B.77.005.

Effective date—Purpose—2011 1st sp.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.19.003.

All procurement contracts entered into under this chapter on or after June 10, 2010, are subject to the requirements established under RCW 43.60A.200.

Purpose—Construction—2010 c 5: See notes following RCW 43.60A.010.

(1) All contracts entered into and purchases made, including leasing or renting, under this chapter on or after September 1, 1983, are subject to the requirements established under chapter 39.19 RCW.

(2) All procurement contracts entered into under this chapter on or after June 10, 2010, are subject to the requirements established under RCW 43.60A.200.

(3) All contracts with the state for goods or services entered into under this chapter on or after January 1, 2024, are subject to the requirements established under RCW 49.60.530.

Purpose—Construction—2010 c 5: See notes following RCW 43.60A.010.

Effective date—Applicability—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1983 c 120: See RCW 39.19.910, 39.19.920.

Any person, firm, or organization which makes any bid to provide any goods or any services to any state agency shall be granted a preference over other bidders if (1) the goods or services have been or will be produced or provided in whole or in part by an inmate work program of the department of corrections and (2) an amount equal to at least fifteen percent of the total bid amount has been paid or will be paid by the person, firm, or organization to inmates as wages. The preference provided under this section shall be equal to ten percent of the total bid amount.

Effective date—1981 c 136: See RCW 72.09.900.

(1) State agencies, the legislature, and departments shall purchase for their use all goods and services required by the legislature, agencies, or departments that are produced or provided in whole or in part from class II inmate work programs operated by the department of corrections through state contract. These goods and services shall not be purchased from any other source unless, upon application by the department or agency: (a) The department finds that the articles or products do not meet the reasonable requirements of the agency or department, (b) are not of equal or better quality, or (c) the price of the product or service is higher than that produced by the private sector. However, the criteria contained in (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection for purchasing goods and services from sources other than correctional industries do not apply to goods and services produced by correctional industries that primarily replace goods manufactured or services obtained from outside the state. The department of corrections and department shall adopt administrative rules that implement this section.

(2) Effective July 1, 2012, this section does not apply to the purchase of uniforms for correctional officers employed with the Washington state department of corrections.

Effective date—Purpose—2011 1st sp.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.19.003.

Effective date—2011 c 367: See note following RCW 47.29.170.

Effective date—2009 c 470: See note following RCW 46.68.170.

(1) The director shall develop specifications and adopt rules for the purchase of products which will provide for preferential purchase of products containing recycled material by:

(a) The use of a weighting factor determined by the amount of recycled material in a product, where appropriate and known in advance to potential bidders, to determine the lowest responsible bidder. The actual dollars bid shall be the contracted amount. If the department determines, according to criteria established by rule that the use of this weighting factor does not encourage the use of more recycled material, the department shall consider and award bids without regard to the weighting factor. In making this determination, the department shall consider but not be limited to such factors as adequate competition, economics or environmental constraints, quality, and availability.

(b) Requiring a written statement of the percentage range of recycled content from the bidder providing products containing recycled material. The range may be stated in five percent increments.

(2) The director shall develop a directory of businesses that have a master contract with the department that supply products containing significant quantities of recycled materials. This directory may be combined with and made accessible through the database of recycled content products to be developed under RCW 43.19A.060.

(3) The director shall encourage all parties using the state purchasing office to purchase products containing recycled materials.

(4) The rules, specifications, and bid evaluation shall be consistent with recycled content standards adopted under RCW 43.19A.020.

Effective date—Purpose—2011 1st sp.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.19.003.

Effective date—1988 c 175: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1988." [ 1988 c 175 s 4.]

Recycled product procurement: Chapter 43.19A RCW.

The legislature finds that in-state preference clauses used by other states in procuring goods and services have a discriminatory effect against Washington vendors with resulting harm to this state's revenues and the welfare of this state's citizens. Chapter 183, Laws of 1983 is intended to promote fairness in state government procurement by requiring that, when appropriate, Washington exercise reciprocity with those states having in-state preferences, and it shall be liberally construed to that effect.

(1) The department shall establish purchasing and procurement policies that establish a preference for electronic products that meet environmental performance standards relating to the reduction or elimination of hazardous materials.

(2) The department shall ensure that their surplus electronic products, other than those sold individually to private citizens, are managed only by registered transporters and by processors meeting the requirements of RCW 70A.500.250.

(3) The department shall ensure that their surplus electronic products are directed to legal secondary materials markets by requiring a chain of custody record that documents to whom the products were initially delivered through to the end use manufacturer.

Explanatory statement—2021 c 65: See note following RCW 53.54.030.

Effective date—Purpose—2011 1st sp.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.19.003.

Construction—Effective date—2006 c 183: See RCW 70A.500.900 and 70A.500.901.

The director shall compile a list of the statutes and regulations, relating to state purchasing, of each state, which statutes and regulations the director believes grant a preference to vendors located within the state or goods manufactured within the state. At least once every twelve months the director shall update the list.

Effective date—Purpose—2011 1st sp.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.19.003.

The director shall adopt and apply rules designed to provide for some reciprocity in bidding between Washington and those states having statutes or regulations on the list under RCW 39.26.270. The director shall have broad discretionary power in developing these rules and the rules shall provide for reciprocity only to the extent and in those instances where the director considers it appropriate. For the purpose of determining the lowest responsible bidder pursuant to RCW 39.26.160, such rules shall (1) require the director to impose a reciprocity increase on bids when appropriate under the rules and (2) establish methods for determining the amount of the increase. In no instance shall such increase, if any, be paid to a vendor whose bid is accepted.

Effective date—Purpose—2011 1st sp.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.19.003.

(1) The department shall establish purchasing and procurement policies that provide a preference for products and products in packaging that does not contain polychlorinated biphenyls.

(2) No agency may knowingly purchase products or products in packaging containing polychlorinated biphenyls above the practical quantification limit except when it is not cost-effective or technically feasible to do so.

(3) Nothing in this section requires the department or any other state agency to breach an existing contract or dispose of stock that has been ordered or is in the possession of the department or other state agency as of June 12, 2014.

Findings—2014 c 135: "Polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly known as PCBs, are a family of human-made organic chemicals that were used in many industrial and commercial products such as insulating fluids for electric transformers and capacitors, hydraulic fluids, plasticizers, paint additives, lubricants, inks, caulk, and carbonless copy paper. PCBs were used because of their fire resistance, chemical stability, and electrical insulating properties. PCBs are also found in products as an unintentional by-product of manufacturing processes. PCBs are ubiquitous in the environment because of their stability, extensive previous use, by-production in manufacturing, inadvertent release, and the inability to control and eliminate them through current waste management practices. PCBs are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, and they cycle between the air, soil, and water. PCBs have been shown to cause cancer and affect the human immune, reproductive, nervous, and endocrine systems. The United States toxic substances control act prohibited the commercial production of PCBs in 1979. However, the United States environmental protection agency rules implementing the ban provides exemptions for certain products containing PCBs at concentrations of fifty parts per million or less as a result of manufacturing processes and therefore the continued manufacture, processing, distribution, and use of products containing PCBs remains permitted." [ 2014 c 135 s 1.]

(1) All contracts entered into and purchases made under this chapter are subject to the requirements established under RCW 19.06.020.

(2) This section is not intended to create an entitlement to an individual or class of individuals.

Construction—2016 c 40: "Nothing in this act requires the department of enterprise services or any other public agency to breach an existing contract or dispose of stock that has been ordered or is in the possession of the department or other agency as of June 9, 2016." [ 2016 c 40 s 3.]

(1) This chapter does not require the department to test every product procured. However, the department may accept from businesses, manufacturers, organizations, and individuals results obtained from an accredited laboratory or testing facility documenting product or product packaging polychlorinated biphenyl levels.

(2) The department may request suppliers of products to provide testing data from an accredited laboratory or testing facility documenting product or product packaging polychlorinated biphenyl levels.

Findings—2014 c 135: See note following RCW 39.26.280.

(1) The department of social and health services, the department of children, youth, and families, and the health care authority are each authorized to purchase interpreter services on behalf of limited English-speaking applicants and recipients of public assistance.

(2) The department of labor and industries is authorized to purchase interpreter services for medical and vocational providers authorized to provide services to limited English-speaking injured workers or crime victims.

(3) No later than September 1, 2020, the department of social and health services, the department of children, youth, and families, the health care authority, and the department of labor and industries must purchase in-person spoken language interpreter services directly from language access providers as defined in RCW 74.04.025, or through limited contracts with scheduling and coordinating delivery organizations, or both. Each state agency must have at least one contract with an entity that provides interpreter services through telephonic and video remote technologies. Nothing in this section precludes the department of labor and industries from purchasing in-person spoken language interpreter services directly from language access providers or from directly reimbursing language access providers.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, the department of labor and industries may pay a language access provider directly for the costs of interpreter services when the services are necessary for use by a medical provider for emergency or urgent care, or where the medical provider determines that advanced notice is not feasible.

(5) Upon the expiration of any contract in effect on June 7, 2018, but no later than September 1, 2020, the department must develop and implement a model that all state agencies must use to procure spoken language interpreter services by purchasing directly from language access providers or through contracts with scheduling and coordinating entities, or both. The department must have at least one contract with an entity that provides interpreter services through telephonic and video remote technologies. If the department determines it is more cost-effective or efficient, it may jointly purchase these services with the department of social and health services, the department of children, youth, and families, the health care authority, and the department of labor and industries as provided in subsection (3) of this section. The department of social and health services, the department of children, youth, and families, the health care authority, and the department of labor and industries have the authority to procure interpreters through the department if the demand for spoken language interpreters cannot be met through their respective contracts.

(6) All interpreter services procured under this section must be provided by language access providers who are certified or authorized by the state, or nationally certified by the certification commission for health care interpreters or the national board for certification of medical interpreters. When a nationally certified, state-certified, or authorized language access provider is not available, a state agency is authorized to contract with a spoken language interpreter with other certifications or qualifications deemed to meet agency needs. Nothing in this subsection precludes providing interpretive services through state employees or employees of medical or vocational providers.

(7) Nothing in this section is intended to address how state agencies procure interpreters for sensory-impaired persons.

(8) For purposes of this section, "state agency" means any state office or activity of the executive branch of state government, including state agencies, departments, offices, divisions, boards, commissions, and correctional and other types of institutions, but excludes institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, the school for the blind, and the Washington center for deaf and hard of hearing youth.

Intent—Conflict with federal requirements—2018 c 253: See notes following RCW 74.04.025.

(1) The department shall establish purchasing and procurement policies that provide a preference for products that:

(a) Are not restricted under RCW 70A.60.060;

(b) Do not contain hydrofluorocarbons or contain hydrofluorocarbons with a comparatively low global warming potential;

(c) Are not designed to function only in conjunction with hydrofluorocarbons characterized by a comparatively high global warming potential; and

(d) Were not manufactured using hydrofluorocarbons or were manufactured using hydrofluorocarbons with a low global warming potential.

(2) No agency may knowingly purchase products that are not accorded a preference in the purchasing and procurement policies established by the department pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, unless there is no cost-effective and technologically feasible option that is accorded a preference.

(3) The department shall establish a purchasing and procurement policy that provides a preference, in serving existing equipment, for a reclaimed refrigerant that meets the minimum quality requirement established in federal regulations adopted under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7671(g).

(4)(a) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section requires the department or any other state agency to breach an existing contract or dispose of stock that has been ordered or is in the possession of the department or other state agency as of July 28, 2019.

(b) Nothing in subsection (3) of this section requires the department or any other state agency to breach an existing contract or dispose of stock that has been ordered or is in the possession of the department or other state agency as of July 28, 2021.

(5) By December 1, 2020, and each December 1st of even-numbered years thereafter, the department must submit a status report to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and senate regarding the implementation and compliance of the department and state agencies with this section.

Explanatory statement—2021 c 65: See note following RCW 53.54.030.

Finding—Intent—2019 c 284: See notes following RCW 70A.60.060.

An agency, department, or institution of higher education that intends to contract out, or does contract out, for services that, on or after July 1, 2005, have been customarily and historically performed by employees in the classified service defined in RCW 41.06.020 must follow procedures and meet criteria established under RCW 41.06.142.

Intent—Finding—Application—2020 c 269: See notes following RCW 41.06.142.

(1) Beginning July 1, 2024, all state agencies may only purchase plastic trash bags manufactured by producers that comply with the minimum recycled content requirements established in RCW 70A.245.020.

(2) By July 1, 2024, the department of ecology shall provide to the department a list of the plastic trash bag producer brands that comply with the minimum recycled content requirements established in RCW 70A.245.020, in order for state agencies to purchase compliant products, updated annually.

Finding—Intent—2021 c 313: See note following RCW 70A.245.010.

(1) Before an agency shares with a contractor category 3 or higher data, as defined in policy established in accordance with RCW 43.105.054, a written data-sharing agreement must be in place. Such agreements shall conform to the policies for data sharing specified by the office of cybersecurity under the authority of RCW 43.105.054.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting audit authorities under chapter 43.09 RCW.

This act takes effect January 1, 2013.