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74 O.S. § 85.42. One-Year Limitation on Entering Contracts with Certain Persons - Exceptions

  1. Except as otherwise provided for in this section, any agency, whether or not such agency is subject to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, is prohibited from entering into a sole source contract or a contract for professional services with or for the services of any person, who has terminated employment with or who has been terminated by that agency for one (1) year after the termination date of the employee from the agency. The provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit an agency from hiring or rehiring such person as a state employee. 
  2. Each contract entered into by any person or firm with the State of Oklahoma shall include a statement certifying that no person who has been involved in any manner in the development of that contract while employed by the State of Oklahoma shall be employed to fulfill any of the services provided for under said contract. This subsection shall not preclude faculty and staff of the institutions within The State System of Higher Education from negotiating and participating in research grants and educational contracts. Nor shall this subsection apply to personnel of the Capital Resources Division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce who contract to provide services to the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board. 
  3. As used in this section, person is defined as any state official or employee of a department, board, bureau, commission, agency, trusteeship, authority, council, committee, trust, school district, fair board, court, executive office, advisory group, task force, study group, supported in whole or in part by public funds or entrusted with the expenditure of public funds or administering or operating public property, and all committees, or subcommittees thereof, judges, justices, and state legislators. 
  4. An agency may enter into a sole source contract or a contract for professional services at any time with a person who is a qualified interpreter for the deaf. 
  5. The Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry may enter into a contract for professional services at any time with a person who has retired from state service, provided the provisions specified in subsection B of this section are satisfied. 
  6. The Department of Human Services may enter into a contract for professional services related to computer application development support and network engineering at any time with a person who has separated from state service, provided the provisions specified in subsection B of this section are satisfied. 
  7. To maintain public health infrastructure and preparedness, the State Department of Health and city-county health departments may enter into a contract for professional services at any time with a physician’s assistant, registered nurse, advanced practice nurse, nurse midwife, registered dietician, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech-language pathologist who has retired from state service; provided, the provisions specified in subsection B of this section are also satisfied. 
  8. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services may enter into a contract for professional services at any time with a physician, registered nurse, registered pharmacist, or person meeting the definition of a licensed mental health professional, as defined in Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, who has separated and/or retired from state service; provided that the provisions specified in subsection B of this section are satisfied. 
  9. The Administrative Office of the Courts may, on behalf of the district courts, enter into a sole source contract or a contract for professional services at any time with a person who is a part-time certified court reporter. 

Associated Rules

In addition to terms defined in 74 O.S., §85.2, the following words or terms, when used in this Chapter shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Acceptable Electronic Signature Technology" means technology that is capable of creating a signature that is unique to the person using it; is capable of verification, is under the sole control of the person using it, and is linked to the data in such a manner that if the data is changed, the electronic signature is invalidated."Acquisition authority" means the dollar amount within which a state agency is approved to make acquisitions without submitting a requisition to the State Purchasing Director."Addendum" means a written modification to a contract."All or none bid" means a bid in which the bidder states only an award for all items or services included in the solicitation will be accepted."All or none solicitation" means a solicitation in which the state indicates it will award a contract to a single supplier for all items or service included in the solicitation."Alteration" means a modification a bidder makes to a solicitation response prior to the response due date."Alternate bid" or "alternative bid" means a bid or proposal, which contains an intentional substantive variation to a basic provision, specification, term or condition of the solicitation."Amendment" means a written change, addition, correction, or revision to a solicitation made by the state agency responsible for making the acquisition."Authorized signature" means a manual, electronic or digital signature or other identifier uniquely linked to a person authorized to sign documents the supplier submits to the State Purchasing Director."Best and Final Offer" or "BAFO" means a final offer submitted in writing by a bidder based on the outcome of negotiations."Bid bond", "performance bond" or "surety" means a form of surety or guaranty that the State Purchasing Director may require bidders to submit with a bid."Bidder" means an individual or business entity that submits a bid or proposal in response to an invitation to bid or a request for proposal. [74 O.S. §85.2] When used in this Chapter, bidder is synonymous with a “supplier” or “supplier” responding to a solicitation."Business days" means Monday through Friday and is exclusive of weekends and Oklahoma state holidays."Central Purchasing Division" means the Central Purchasing Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services."Certified Procurement Officer" or "CPO" means a state agency procurement official certified as a procurement officer or analyst by the State Purchasing Director under the provisions of the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act."Chief Information Officer" means the chief administrative officer of the Information Services Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services."Clarification" means a bidder’s explanation of all or part of a bid that does not change, alter or supplement the bid."Closing date/time" means the date and Central Time a solicitation specifies responses are due."Commodity classification" means numeric designations the State Purchasing Director assigns to classify goods and services into similar categories."Competitive solicitation" means a process for acquiring goods or services wherein bidders submit bids to the Central Purchasing Division or a state agency pursuant to terms, conditions and other requirements of a solicitation. The competitive solicitation process may be electronic when the terms of the solicitation expressly permit electronic submission and the requirements of applicable statutes and rules are met."Days" means calendar days unless otherwise specified."Debar" or "debarment" means action taken by the State Purchasing Director to exclude any business entity from inclusion on the Supplier List, bidding, offering to bid, receiving an award of contract with the State of Oklahoma for acquisitions by state agencies or a contract the Office of Management and Enterprise Services awards or administers and may also result in cancellation of existing contracts with the State of Oklahoma."Director" or "OMES Director" means the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services or his designee."Electronic Signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record. Unless otherwise provided by this Chapter or law, an electronic signature may be used to sign a document and shall have the same force and effect as a written signature."Emergency acquisition" means an acquisition made by the State Purchasing Director or a state agency without seeking competitive bids to relieve an unforeseen condition believed to place human life or safety in imminent danger or threaten significant property interests with imminent destruction; or, is a condition certified by the Governor as a serious environmental situation. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.7]"Firm bid" means an offer by a bidder which contains no conditions which may prevent acceptance and which, by its terms, remains open and binding until the State Purchasing Director accepts or rejects the bid."Fiscal year" means the period of time from July 1 of a calendar year through June 30 of the succeeding calendar year."Forms" means documents the OMES Director prescribes and requires suppliers and state agencies to use to provide information to OMES."Indefinite quantity contract" means a contract the State Purchasing Director, CIO, or a state agency establishes based on historical usage of a service or product rather than a specified quantity of said service or product and which does not obligate the State to purchase any certain amount."Information Services Division" means the Information Services Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services."Information technology" or "IT" means any electronic information equipment or interconnected system that is used in the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information, including audio, graphic, and text. [62 O.S. §34.29]"Invitation to bid" or "ITB" means a type of solicitation a state agency or the State Purchasing Director sends to suppliers to request submission of bids by suppliers for acquisitions."Invoice" refers to a proper invoice as defined by the State Comptroller."Material deficiency" or "material deviation" means a supplier’s failure to provide information necessary to evaluate a solicitation."Minor deficiency" or "minor informality" means an immaterial defect in a bid or variation in a bid from the exact requirements of a solicitation that may be corrected or waived without prejudice to other bidders. A minor deficiency or informality does not affect the price, quantity, quality, delivery or conformance to specifications and is negligible in comparison to the total cost or scope of the acquisition."Multi-award" means the award of a contract to two or more suppliers to furnish an indefinite quantity or category of item, where more than one supplier is needed to meet the contract requirements for quantity, delivery, service or product compatibility."Non-collusion certification" means a certification submitted by a supplier with any competitive bid or contract executed by the state for goods or services in accordance with 74 O.S. §85.22."Non-responsive" means a bid or proposal that has been determined not to conform to essential requirements of a solicitation."Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act" means 74 O.S. §§85.1 et seq."Oklahoma Correctional Industries" or "OCI" means a program of the State Department of Corrections for utilization of inmate labor for the manufacture or production of items or products for use by state agencies."Oklahoma Information Technology Accessibility Standards" or "IT Accessibility Standards" means the accessibility standards adopted by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, to address all technical standard categories of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220, August 7, 1998) to be used by each state agency in the procurement of information technology, and in the development and implementation of custom-designed information technology systems, web sites, and other emerging information technology systems."Office of Management and Enterprise Services" or "Office" or "OMES" means the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services."Online Bidding" means an electronic procurement process in which state agencies receive bids from suppliers for goods, services, construction, or information services over the Internet or other electronic medium in a real-time, competitive bidding event."Procurement" means buying, purchasing, renting, leasing, or otherwise acquiring any goods or services. The term also means all functions that pertain to the obtaining of any goods or services, including, but not limited to, the description of requirements, selection, and solicitation of sources, preparation and award of contracts, and all phases of contract administration."Ratification of an unauthorized commitment" means the act of approving an unauthorized commitment made by a state agency and the written agreement documenting the approval."Reciprocity" means a preference, which the State Purchasing Director or state agency shall apply against the price submitted for an acquisition by an out-of-state bidder whose home state applies a similar preference against Oklahoma bidders."Registered supplier" means a supplier that registers with the Central Purchasing Division pursuant to 74 O.S. §85.33."Remedy" means to cure, alter, correct or change."Request for information" or "RFI" means a non-binding procurement practice used to obtain information, comments, and feedback from interested parties or potential suppliers prior to issuing a solicitation."Request for proposal" or "RFP" means a type of solicitation a state agency or the State Purchasing Director provides to suppliers requesting submission of proposals for acquisitions. "Request for quotation" or "RFQ" means a simplified written or oral solicitation a state agency or the State Purchasing Director provides to suppliers requesting submission of a quote for acquisitions."Requisition number" means an identifier the state agency or OMES assigns to a requisition."Requisitioning unit" means the unit in a state agency responsible for making acquisitions."Responsible supplier" means a supplier who demonstrates capabilities in all respects to fully perform the requirements of a contract that may include, but may not be limited to, finances, credit history, experience, integrity, perseverance, reliability, capacity, facilities and equipment, and performance history which will ensure good faith performance."Responsive" means a bid or proposal that has been determined to conform to the essential requirements of a solicitation."Reverse Auctioning" means a procurement method wherein pre-qualified bidders are invited to bid on specified goods or services through real-time electronic bidding, with the award being made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. During the bidding process, bidders’ price positions are revealed and bidders shall have the opportunity to modify their bid prices for the duration of the time period established by the solicitation."Scheduled acquisition" means a recurring acquisition that consolidates multiple state agency requirements for a given commodity or group of commodities."State official" means a person that works for a department, state agency, trusteeship, authority, school district, fair board, advisory group, task force or study group supported in whole or in part by public funds or administering or operating public property."State Purchasing Director" means the director of the Central Purchasing Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services appointed by the OMES Director; and, includes any employee or agent of the State Purchasing Director, acting within the scope of delegated authority. [74 O.S. §85.2] Unless otherwise stated, the term includes employees of the Central Purchasing Division and state agency purchasing officials certified by the State Purchasing Director to which the State Purchasing Director has lawfully delegated authority to act on his or her behalf. In regards to the procurement of information technology or telecommunications, the term means the Chief Information Officer of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services."State Use Committee" means the statutory Committee that certifies severely disabled individuals and sheltered workshops as qualified organizations to contract with the state to provide products and services, which are designated in the State Use Committee procurement schedule for state agency acquisitions pursuant to 74 O.S. §§ 3001 et seq."Statement of Work" means a detailed description of the work which a state agency requires a contractor or supplier to perform or accomplish."Supplier" or "supplier" means an individual or business entity that sells or desires to sell acquisitions to state agencies [74 O.S. §85.2]."Supplier performance evaluation" means information a state agency or OMES Procurement provides to the State Purchasing Director, in a manner the OMES Director prescribes, that documents the quality of service or products provided by a supplier."Supplier registration" means a process a supplier uses to register with the Central Purchasing Division to automatically receive solicitations based on a commodity class for a specified period of time."Supplier List" means a list of individuals or business entities that have registered with the Central Purchasing Division in order to receive notification of solicitations for commodities specified in their registration application."Suspension" means an action by the State Purchasing Director to suspend a supplier’s authority to be included on the Supplier List, be eligible to submit bids to state agencies and be awarded a contract by a state agency subject to the Central Purchasing Act."Utility service" or "utilities" means a public service furnishing electricity, natural gas, water, or sewage.

  1. Standard of conduct. The Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, State Ethics Commission rules1 and other state laws contain regulations, prohibitions and penalties governing procurement ethics. Transactions relating to the public expenditure of funds require the highest degree of public trust and impeccable standards of conduct. 
  2. One year limitation for certain contracts. Unless otherwise provided by law, a state agency is prohibited from entering into a sole source contract, a professional service contract or a contract for the services of any person, who has terminated employment with or who has been terminated by that agency for one (1) year after the termination date of the employee from the agency. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.42(A)] An agency may enter into a sole source contract or a contract for professional services at any time with a person who is a qualified interpreter for the deaf. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.42(D)]. 
  3. Supplier gratuities. The State Purchasing Director and any state employee or agent of the State Purchasing Director, acting within the scope of delegated authority, or any member of their immediate family, under the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act shall not accept any gift, donation, or gratuity for himself or any member of his immediate family from any supplier or prospective supplier of any acquisition covered by the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act. This subsection shall not apply to exceptions to the definition of “anything of value” established in rules promulgated by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.13

  1. Basic Requirements. State agencies that have an internal CPO or a designated CPO through an interagency agreement and approved internal purchasing procedures pursuant to the requirements of 260:115-5-3 and 260:115-5-7 shall make acquisitions over $5,000.00 and not exceeding $25,000.00 pursuant to this section. 
  2. Acquisition Preparation. The state agency shall prepare and document the state agency’s specifications and all information required from the supplier for an acquisition. An agency shall choose an appropriate solicitation methodology, i.e. formal or informal competitive solicitation, based on the complexity of an acquisition. 
  3. Supplier selection. 
    1. The state agency shall solicit from a minimum of three (3) registered suppliers (if available) for acquisitions over $5,000.00 and not exceeding $10,000.00 and ten (10) registered suppliers for acquisitions over $10,000.00 and not exceeding $25,000.00, from the Supplier List in the appropriate commodity classification. Selection of suppliers shall be rotated whenever more than ten (10) suppliers are registered. 
    2. State agencies shall solicit prices and delivery dates by mail, telephone, facsimile or by means of electronic commerce. 
    3. The state agency shall make a written evaluation of criteria considered in selection of the supplier for the acquisition. Documentation of prices, delivery dates and the evaluation shall be placed in the acquisition file. 
    4. All awards shall be based on lowest and best or best value criteria. 
    5. Certifications, verifications and other required documents. 
      1. Non-collusion certification. Pursuant to requirements in 74 O.S. §85.22, a non- collusion certification shall be included with any competitive bid and/or contract submitted to the State for goods or services. The certification shall have an authorized signature of the supplier certifying the non-collusion statement with full knowledge and acceptance of all its provisions. 
      2. Sales Tax Permit Verification. Prior to the award of a contract, the state agency must verify that the supplier has obtained a current sales tax permit in accordance with the laws of Oklahoma. Documentation of verification of a current sales tax permit, which must be a copy of the sales tax permit, the supplier’s explanation of exemption, or confirmation of the permit’s status obtained from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, must be filed in the acquisition file. 
      3. Certifications for services contracts. Additional documents required to be included in contracts for professional or nonprofessional services include: 
        1. If the final product of a professional services contract is a written proposal, report or study, the supplier shall include a statement certifying that the supplier has not previously provided a substantial duplication of the final product to the state agency or another state agency. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.41
        2. An acquisition for professional or nonprofessional services must include statutory language required by the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act as a term of the requisition or contract and must be signed by the chief administrative officer of the agency or the chief administrative officer of the requisitioning unit certifying compliance with the Act. [Reference 74 O.S. § 85.4
        3. Each contract for services shall include a statement certifying that no person who has been involved in any manner in the development of that contract while employed by the State of Oklahoma shall be employed to fulfill any of the services provided for under said contract. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.42
      4. Bonds and sureties. The solicitation may require bidders to submit a bid bond, performance bond, or other type of approved surety with the bid. 
        1. Form of bond. The bid bond, performance bond or other type of surety shall be subject to the approval of the State Purchasing Director. For bonds requiring a cash deposit, the amount specified by the State Purchasing Director shall be paid by certified check or cashiers check. 
        2. Irrevocable letter of credit. In lieu of bonds specified in this subsection, the State Purchasing Director may approve submission of an irrevocable letter of credit. 
        3. Bond or surety return. When the State Purchasing Director specifies a bid contain a bid bond, performance bond, or other type of surety, the State Purchasing Director shall retain the bond or surety until the successful completion of the purpose for which the bond or surety was drawn. 

  1. Basic requirements. State agencies that have an internal CPO or a designated CPO through an interagency agreement and approved internal purchasing procedures pursuant to the requirements of 260:115-5-3 and 260:115-5-7 shall make acquisitions exceeding $25,000.00 but not exceeding $50,000.00 in accordance with this section, by means of a formal method of competitive solicitation, i.e. sealed bid solicitations. 
  2. Acquisition preparation. The state agency shall prepare and document the state agency’s specifications for an acquisition. The state agency shall provide the specifications, terms and conditions for the acquisition to each supplier selected for notification. Whenever the state agency issues a solicitation for acquisition by invitation to bid or RFP, the agency shall develop evaluation criteria for the acquisition prior to bid opening. 
  3. Supplier selection. 
    1. The state agency shall solicit all registered suppliers in the appropriate commodity classification from the Supplier List along with any other suppliers identified by the state agency. Suppliers that have been suspended or debarred by the State Purchasing Director or the Federal government shall not be awarded a contract. 
    2. State agencies shall solicit prices and delivery dates by means of sealed bid using mail or electronic commerce. The suppliers shall provide pricing and delivery dates in accordance with the requirements of the solicitation. 
    3. The state agency shall make a written evaluation of criteria considered in selection of the supplier for the acquisition. The written evaluation shall be placed in the acquisition file. When a selection has been made, the state agency shall notify the supplier of the award. 
    4. All awards shall be based on lowest and best or best value criteria. 
    5. Certifications, verifications and other required documents. 
      1. Non-collusion certification. Pursuant to requirements in 74 O.S. §85.22, a non- collusion certification shall be included with any competitive bid and/or contract submitted to the State for goods or services. The certification shall have an authorized signature of the supplier certifying the non-collusion statement with full knowledge and acceptance of all its provisions. 
      2. Sales Tax Permit Verification. Prior to the award of a contract, the state agency must verify that the supplier has obtained a current sales tax permit in accordance with the laws of Oklahoma. Documentation of verification of a current sales tax permit, which must be a copy of the sales tax permit, the supplier’s explanation of exemption, or confirmation of the permit’s status obtained from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, must be filed in the acquisition file. 
      3. Certifications for services contracts. Additional documents required to be included in contracts for professional or nonprofessional services include: 
        1. If the final product of a professional services contract is a written proposal, report or study, the supplier shall include a statement certifying that the supplier has not previously provided a substantial duplication of the final product to the state agency or another state agency. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.41
        2. An acquisition for professional or nonprofessional services must include statutory language required by the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act as a term of the requisition or contract and must be signed by the chief administrative officer of the agency or the chief administrative officer of the requisitioning unit certifying compliance with the Act. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.4
        3. Each contract for services shall include a statement certifying that no person who has been involved in any manner in the development of that contract while employed by the State of Oklahoma shall be employed to fulfill any of the services provided for under said contract. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.42
      4. Bonds and sureties. The solicitation may require bidders to submit a bid bond, performance bond, or other type of approved surety with the bid. 
        1. Form of bond. The bid bond, performance bond or other type of surety shall be subject to the approval of the acquiring state agency. For bonds requiring a cash deposit, the amount specified by the acquiring state agency shall be paid by certified check or cashiers check. 
        2. Irrevocable letter of credit. In lieu of bonds specified in this subsection, the acquiring state agency may approve submission of an irrevocable letter of credit. (iii)Bond or surety return. When the acquiring state agency specifies a bid contain a bid bond, performance bond, or other type of surety, the state agency shall retain the bond or surety until the successful completion of the purpose for which the bond or surety was drawn. 
      5. Verification of registration and status with Secretary of State. Prior to the award of a contract, the acquiring state agency must verify, pursuant to applicable provisions of law, that the supplier is registered with the Secretary of State and franchise tax payment status pursuant to 68 O.S. §1203 and §1204. Documentation of verification of registration and status with the Secretary of State must include, at a minimum, a copy of the entity summary information from the Secretary of State’s website or the supplier’s statement providing specific details supporting the exemption claimed, must be filed in the acquisition file.

State agencies with a CPO and approved internal purchasing procedures meeting the requirements of 260:115-5-3 and 260:115-5-7, may make an emergency acquisition authorized by 74 O.S. §85.7. For an emergency acquisition over One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), the State Purchasing Director shall: 

  1. select a supplier or a group of suppliers to notify utilizing telephone, facsimile or electronic commerce; 
  2. Obtain the following certifications, verifications and other required documents, as applicable, from the supplier selected for contract award: 
    1. Non-collusion certification. Pursuant to requirements in 74 O.S. §85.22, a non- collusion certification shall be included with any competitive bid and/or contract submitted to the State for goods or services. The certification shall have an authorized signature of the supplier certifying the non-collusion statement with full knowledge and acceptance of all its provisions. 
    2. Sales Tax Permit Verification. Prior to the award of a contract, the state agency must verify that the supplier has obtained a current sales tax permit in accordance with the laws of Oklahoma. Documentation of verification of a current sales tax permit, which must be a copy of the sales tax permit, the supplier’s explanation of exemption, or confirmation of the permit’s status obtained from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, must be filed in the acquisition file. 
    3. Certifications for services contracts. Additional documents required to be included in contracts for professional or nonprofessional services include: 
      1. If the final product of a professional services contract is a written proposal, report or study, the supplier shall include a statement certifying that the supplier has not previously provided a substantial duplication of the final product to the state agency or another state agency. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.41
      2. An acquisition for professional or nonprofessional services must include statutory language required by the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act as a term of the requisition or contract and must be signed by the chief administrative officer of the agency or the chief administrative officer of the requisitioning unit certifying compliance with the Act. [Reference 74 O.S. § 85.4
      3. Each contract for services shall include a statement certifying that no person who has been involved in any manner in the development of that contract while employed by the State of Oklahoma shall be employed to fulfill any of the services provided for under said contract. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.42
      4. Bonds and sureties. The solicitation may require bidders to submit a bid bond, performance bond, or other type of approved surety with the bid. 
        1. Form of bond. The bid bond, performance bond or other type of surety shall be subject to the approval of the acquiring state agency. For bonds requiring a cash deposit, the amount specified by the acquiring state agency shall be paid by certified check or cashiers check. 
        2. Irrevocable letter of credit. In lieu of bonds specified in this subsection, the acquiring state agency may approve submission of an irrevocable letter of credit. 
        3. Bond or surety return. When the acquiring state agency specifies a bid contain a bid bond, performance bond, or other type of surety, the state agency shall retain the bond or surety until the successful completion of the purpose for which the bond or surety was drawn. 
      5. Verification of registration and status with Secretary of State. Prior to the award of a contract, the acquiring state agency must verify, pursuant to applicable provisions of law, that the supplier is registered with the Secretary of State and franchise tax payment status pursuant to 68 O.S. §1203 and §1204. Documentation of verification of registration and status with the Secretary of State must include, at a minimum, a copy of the entity summary information from the Secretary of State’s website or the supplier’s statement providing specific details supporting the exemption claimed, must be filed in the acquisition file.

If the OMES Director approves a state agency’s request for a waiver [Reference 260:115-1-6], a state agency with a CPO and approved internal purchasing procedures as required by 260:115-5-3 and 260:115-5-7, may make the acquisition for which the waiver was approved, within their approved purchasing authority limit. When an acquisition is made pursuant to a waiver, the State Purchasing Director: 

  1. may select a supplier or group of suppliers to notify using telephone, facsimile or electronic commerce; 
  2. shall obtain the following certifications, verifications and other required documents, as applicable, from the supplier selected for contract award: 
    1. Non-collusion certification. Pursuant to requirements in 74 O.S. §85.22, a non-collusion certification shall be included with any competitive bid and/or contract submitted to the State for goods or services. The certification shall have an authorized signature of the supplier certifying the non-collusion statement with full knowledge and acceptance of all its provisions. 
    2. Sales Tax Permit Verification. Prior to the award of a contract, the state agency must verify that the supplier has obtained a current sales tax permit in accordance with the laws of Oklahoma. Documentation of verification of a current sales tax permit, which must be a copy of the sales tax permit, the supplier’s explanation of exemption, or confirmation of the permit’s status obtained from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, must be filed in the acquisition file. 
    3. Certifications for services contracts. Additional documents required to be included in contracts for professional or nonprofessional services include: 
      1. If the final product of a professional services contract is a written proposal, report or study, the supplier shall include a statement certifying that the supplier has not previously provided a substantial duplication of the final product to the state agency or another state agency. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.41
      2. An acquisition for professional or nonprofessional services must include statutory language required by the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act as a term of the requisition or contract and must be signed by the chief administrative officer of the agency or the chief administrative officer of the requisitioning unit certifying compliance with the Act. [Reference 74 O.S. § 85.4
      3. Each contract for services shall include a statement certifying that no person who has been involved in any manner in the development of that contract while employed by the State of Oklahoma shall be employed to fulfill any of the services provided for under said contract. [Reference 74 O.S. §85.42

Associated Attorney General Opinions

A professional services contract between a former state employee or official and any state agency is prohibited for a period of one year from the date the employee or official leaves state service. The statute applies regardless of whether the former employee or official worked for the particular agency before leaving state service.  Likewise, while the statute references “any person”, the person’s financial interest or control over a corporation that is a party to a professional services contract may be so great that, for purposes of determining if the contract is prohibited, the contract may be deemed to be with that person rather than the corporate entity.  One factor, among others, to consider is whether the former employee’s financial interest is the contract is direct and substantial. The statute is designed to prevent a less than arms-length transactions in which a state employee or official sets up professional contracts before leaving state employment and immediately enters into such contracts after leaving state employment.

A state agency is not prohibited from entering into a contract with a corporation that simply employed a former state employee within one year of the date of his or her termination from state service unless the contract is for the purpose of securing the services of the particular former employee. The mere fact of employment of a former state employee, standing alone, does not prohibit the corporation from entering into a professional services contract with a state agency. See 74 O.S. §85.42

Purchasing Reference Guide

References

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