Task force asks OMB to pursue procurement, construction and legal‑notice reforms

Chairman Toman and members of the Government Efficiency Task Force voted to ask the Office of Management and Budget to pursue a package of statutory and administrative changes that OMB officials said would standardize procurement, improve competition, and modernize public notices.

The request followed a presentation from Sherry Neese, Shared Services Division director at OMB, who told members that North Dakota’s concessions statute requires awarding to the “highest responsible bidder” at $25,000 in gross annual sales and gives no authority to consider quality or other best‑value factors. "The suggestion then is to amend that law to allow an award based on best value, considering the stated evaluation criteria and rent or percentage of sales offered as a share back," Neese said. She also proposed raising the competition threshold from $25,000 to $50,000 and developing standardized solicitation templates in collaboration with university, county and hospitality industry partners.

Neese also outlined a proposal to consolidate architect/engineer prequalification language into North Dakota Century Code chapter 54‑44.7 so more agencies and political subdivisions could establish standardized prequalified consultant pools. She said this change would promote uniform evaluation criteria and reduce redundant local practices.

On legal notices, Neese described the current biennial rate‑setting process and the costs that publication imposes on smaller governments. She recommended forming a collaborative group with the Secretary of State, higher education, city and county representatives and the North Dakota Newspaper Association to explore an ADA‑compliant statewide legal‑notice website, abbreviated print notices with full text online, and a possible flat fee structure for publication. "Exploration of new legal notice technology could create efficiencies for government, improve public access with better searchability and a consistent appearance," Neese said.

Senator Hogan moved that OMB implement the proposed collaborations and present draft bill language and a report at the next meeting; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The committee recorded that OMB should coordinate with industry groups, the university system and legislative counsel as appropriate before returning with specific drafts.

The task force also flagged several implementation questions for OMB: how proceeds from concessions are returned to the general fund in practice, whether prequalification standards should vary by project complexity, and how any online legal‑notice system would meet accessibility requirements. OMB officials offered to convene stakeholder meetings and produce draft statutory language for committee review.

The committee’s direction is procedural: it did not enact statutory changes but authorized OMB to lead collaborative drafting and return with bill drafts and a report at a future meeting.