§1812. Scope of purchasing authority

The terms "services," "supplies," "materials" and "equipment" as used in this chapter mean any and all services, articles or things that are used by or furnished to the State or any department or agency thereof, and any and all printing, binding, publication of laws, journals and reports. Except as provided in chapters 141 to 155, any and all services, supplies, materials and equipment needed by one or more departments or agencies of the State Government must be directly purchased or contracted for by the Director of the Bureau of General Services, as may be determined from time to time by rules adopted pursuant to chapters 141 to 155, which rules the Department of Administrative and Financial Services is authorized and empowered to make. It is the intent and purpose of this chapter that the Director of the Bureau of General Services purchase collectively all services, supplies, materials and equipment for the State or any department or agency thereof in a manner that will best secure the greatest possible economy consistent with the grade or quality of the services, supplies, materials and equipment best adapted for the purposes for which they are needed. Whenever supplies and materials are available for purchase that are composed in whole or in part of recycled materials and are shown by the seller, supplier or manufacturer to be equal in quality and are competitively priced, except for paper and paper products, the Director of the Bureau of General Services shall purchase such recycled supplies and materials. The Director of the Bureau of General Services shall also review procurement procedures and bid specifications for the purchase of products and materials to ensure, to the maximum extent feasible, the purchase of products or materials that are made with recycled materials or may be recycled or reused once discarded. For the purposes of this section and section 1812-B, "recycled materials" means materials that are composed in whole or in part of elements that are reused or reclaimed.   [PL 1991, c. 780, Pt. Y, §67 (AMD).]

The Trustees of the University of Maine System may authorize the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to act for them in any purchases.   [PL 1991, c. 780, Pt. Y, §67 (AMD).]

The word "services," when used in this chapter, means any and all window cleaning services, elevator repair and maintenance services, laundry service, linen supply service, dry cleaning service, janitor service, floor maintenance service, rubbish and garbage disposal service, tree surgeon service, all types of office machine repair and maintenance service, exterminator service, refrigerator repair and maintenance service and oil burner repair and maintenance service when any such service is performed by an independent contractor. The Director of the Bureau of General Services may, with the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services add to or eliminate from the various types of service set forth in this paragraph such services performed by independent contractors as may be considered by the director to be in the best interests of the State.   [PL 1991, c. 780, Pt. Y, §67 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1969, c. 300, §1 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 739, §1 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 779, §17 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 785, §A72 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 402, §A43 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 585, §C1 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 374, §1 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 780, §Y67 (AMD).