Amends TCA Section 12-3-1207.

This bill makes the following changes to present law concerning public purchases by local governments:<br /> <br /> (1) Present law requires that competitive sealed proposals are opened in a manner that avoids disclosure of contents to competing respondents during the negotiation. The proposals must be open for public inspection after the intent to award the contract to a particular respondent is announced. This bill specifies that all materials related to the competitive sealed proposals must also be open for public inspection after the intent to award the contract to a particular respondent is announced; and<br /> <br /> (2) Present law authorizes the conducting of discussions for clarification to assure full understanding of, and responsiveness to, the solicitation requirements with responsible respondents who submit proposals determined by the purchasing agent to be reasonably susceptible of being selected. The respondents must be accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion and revision of proposals. This bill authorizes the conducting of interviews, presentations, demonstrations and discussions, either oral or in writing, or both, for clarification to assure full understanding of, and responsiveness to, the solicitation requirements with the one or more responsible respondents who submit proposals determined by the purchasing agent to be reasonably susceptible of being selected. As is the case with present law, this bill requires that the respondents are accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to an opportunity for an interview, presentation, demonstration, discussion, or revision of proposals.<br />