An Act To Address Research and Teaching in Maine's Institutions of Higher Education by Amending the Laws Governing the Purchase of Goods and Services by the State Involving Institutions of Higher Education
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1825-B, sub-§2, ¶E, as repealed and replaced by PL 1995, c. 625, Pt. A, §5 and amended by PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §2 and affected by §4, is further amended to read:
(1) An activity assisting a state agency and enhancing the ability of the university system or , community college system or a private, nonprofit, regionally accredited institution of higher education with a main campus in this State to fulfill its mission of teaching , and research and public service; and
(2) A sharing of project responsibilities and, when appropriate, costs;
summary
This bill allows the Director of the Bureau of General Services within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to waive the requirement of competitive bidding for the purchase of goods and services if the purchase is part of a cooperative project between the State and a private, nonprofit, regionally accredited institution of higher education with a main campus in this State involving an activity assisting a state agency and enhancing the ability of the institution to fulfill its mission of teaching and research. The bill removes the requirement that the waiver be for an activity that has a public service component. Current law allows for such a waiver in the case of a cooperative project between the State and the University of Maine System or the Maine Community College System.