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IdahoH 08892026 regular legislative sessionHouse

STATE PROCUREMENT – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law regarding the procurement of property by the State of Idaho.

Sponsored By: STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Signed by Governor

STATE PROCUREMENT

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Stricter vendor discipline and protests

The law lets the state debar vendors for up to 3 years for performance failures or repeated frivolous protests. Debarred or disqualified vendors cannot bid while the bar lasts. Before debarment, the state must send a cure notice and give 14 calendar days to fix the issue or submit a plan, unless there is an immediate risk. Vendors get notice within 10 days and can request a hearing within 30 days. A protest is frivolous if it has no basis or repeats old claims, and losing over 50% of spec challenges in three procurements within 24 months can count as obstruction.

Tighter conflict and hiring rules

Vendors paid to write specifications may not bid to supply that item. Anyone who served in elected office within 365 days of a bid deadline cannot represent a vendor in that procurement. A winning vendor may not hire a public official or state employee who took part in that solicitation within the past 365 days. Vendors who only gave technical help may still bid if they gained no special advantage and their work becomes available to requesters.

Clearer bidding steps and records

The law makes bidding steps clearer and on the record. The administrator must publish scoring rules with each solicitation and choose the lowest responsible bidder. Best and final offers are defined, and a single deadline applies; if you do not update, your last offer stands. For complex or high-value buys, agency experts join negotiations. All contracts are written, signed, and filed; for federally reviewed deals, negotiations finish before submission unless federal law bars it. The law also clarifies when to use RFPs and RFQs.

Stronger privacy for vendor info

Vendor information sent in an RFI stays private unless the vendor later bids. If a solicitation is canceled before award, the state must return paper bids or delete e-bids right away, and they are not public records. The law defines RFIs as tools to learn vendor capabilities and prices to shape a later RFP.

New award preferences and limits

When price and quality tie, agencies prefer local or domestic goods, or bidders with a strong Idaho presence. Qualifying recycled paper gets a 5% price preference in bid scoring. Agencies may consider a vendor’s past state performance but may not use ESG standards to judge responsibility. The administrator must avoid discrimination based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin, except as Idaho law allows.

Rules for multiple-award purchases

The law defines multiple‑award contracts. When several vendors hold a contract, agencies must choose among them using total cost of ownership, fit with existing systems, delivery, support, past results, and warranties. Agencies that buy often under these contracts must review choices at least yearly and tell the administrator which factors drove each purchase.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Camille Blaylock

    Republican • Senate

  • Britt Raybould

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 78 • No: 25

Senate vote • 3/30/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 21 • No: 14

House vote • 3/19/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 57 • No: 11

Actions Timeline

  1. Reported Signed by Governor on April 2, 2026 Session Law Chapter 283 Effective: 07/01/2026

    4/2/2026

  2. Delivered to Governor at 12:50 p.m. on April 1, 2026

    4/1/2026

  3. Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor

    4/1/2026Senate

  4. Signed by President; returned to House

    3/31/2026Senate

  5. Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026Senate

  6. Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate

    3/31/2026House

  7. Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling

    3/31/2026House

  8. Read third time in full – PASSED - 21-14-0

    3/30/2026Senate

  9. Read second time; filed for Third Reading

    3/26/2026Senate

  10. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading

    3/25/2026Senate

  11. Introduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs

    3/20/2026Senate

  12. Received from the House passed; filed for first reading

    3/20/2026Senate

  13. Rules Suspended: Ayes 64 Nays 4 Abs/Excd 2, read in full as required – PASSED - 57-11-2

    3/19/2026House

  14. Read second time; Filed for Third Reading

    3/19/2026House

  15. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading

    3/18/2026House

  16. Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs

    3/13/2026House

  17. Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing

    3/12/2026House

Bill Text

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