Amends TCA Title 12, Chapter 4, Part 1.

Under present law governing public contracts, local governments may satisfy any requirement for mailing by distributing invitations to bid, requests for proposals and other solicitations electronically. In addition, local governments may receive bids, proposals, and other offers electronically. Present law provides that in order to assure the fullest possible participation of small businesses and minority-owned businesses, local governments are prohibited from requiring such small businesses and minority-owned businesses to receive or respond to invitations to bid, requests for proposals, or other solicitations electronically.<br /> <br /> This bill rewrites the above provisions to require local governments to provide a secure electronic interactive system as an additional option to satisfy any requirement for mailing for invitations to bid, requests for proposals, and other offers electronically. This bill requires local governments to provide the option for vendors to submit bids, proposals, and other offers electronically. Under this bill, local governments will be exempt from any expenditure for high-speed internet access, a computer, software, personnel costs, training, or other office equipment directly related to the receipt of bids electronically; and local governments that are currently without access to high-speed internet or a computer will be exempt from the requirements of this bill until such time that access to high-speed internet or a computer becomes available. Additionally, any county with a population of less than 18,000 or any municipality with a population of less than 9,000 will be exempt from the requirements of this bill.<br /> <br />