Committee advances bill to tighten budget-to-procurement timeline and require pre‑RFP work

Representative Raybould presented House Bill 301 as a package of changes to the State Procurement Act intended to reduce lag time between an appropriation and contract award and to improve market-based budgeting. He said the bill would require agencies to submit a market estimate for budget line items over $250,000 and, where appropriate, provide a draft request for proposal (RFP) at the time of the agency’s budget submission so solicitations can proceed once an appropriation becomes law.

Key elements described by the sponsor include an “intent to solicit” notice early in the timeline (within 10 days of law for new appropriations and one month prior for renewals), set solicitation schedules with standard response windows (up to 60 days to respond, 60 days for review with a possible 30‑day extension), and a five‑day award deadline after review completion. The bill also clarifies rules for multiple awards, preserves vendors’ ability to provide technical assistance without being disqualified, establishes a cooling off period for elected officials and employees, and requires reporting of vendor-paid expenses such as travel.

Representative Raybould said the bill aims to provide “greater certainty, consistency and transparency through our state procurement process.” He acknowledged that some procurements (for example, Medicaid contracts that require CMS review) have external timelines; the draft appends the bill’s timeline to those processes.

Representative Mickelson moved that the committee send House Bill 301 to the House floor with a due‑pass recommendation. No members registered to testify for or against the bill at this meeting. The motion carried on a voice vote.