Legislation carried by State Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison, will ensure the integrity of the state contract bidding process and streamline procurement procedures for Tennessee State Parks.
“Both of these bills will make our procurement and bidding processes more efficient,” Vital said. “A government should work well for the people and these bills allow ours to better serve all citizens. Tennessee is the best-managed state in the country for a reason but we must continually strive to keep it that way.”
House Bill 1786 will clarify that all proposals for solicitation of goods and services are confidential to the public while being evaluated by the state, ensuring bidders don’t receive unfair advantages and protecting the integrity of the process.
Vital is also guiding passage of House Bill 1888, which will allow Tennessee State Parks to use the same procurement process for all revenue-generating facilities through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Parks are required to obtain approval from the Central Procurement Office for purchases not authorized by current statute. This bill allows parks to use TDEC for all eligible purchases.
House Bill 1888 today passed the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and heads to the Finance, Ways and Means Committee. House Bill 1786 last week advanced out of the State Government Committee and is expected to be heard in the Calendar and Rules Committee.
