The Metropolitan Council is now able to use the same procurement processes that the Department of Transportation uses for the purchase of buses, motor coaches, light rail and commuter rail cars and other transit vehicles.
In addition to price, the new law allows the council to include environmental considerations, quality and contract performance when choosing a vendor.
Prior to the law, the council was subject to the Uniform Municipal Contracting Law, and had to use sealed bids for larger purchases.
Sponsored by Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. Tarryl Clark (DFL-St. Cloud), and signed April 26 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the law only applies to the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. The law is effective April 27, 2010, and is retroactive to include requests for proposals issued since Sept. 1, 2009.
HF3286*/
SF3005/CH273
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