AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill before a Maine legislative committee has led to an agreement that snips red tape for businesses that want to bid on state contracts.
The State and Local Government Committee has unanimously accepted a report that puts the process in force.
The new system enables contractors to prequalify for contracts issued by the state Bureau of General Services. The same system is already in place for the Department of Transportation, which allows prequalification for a three-year period.
Rep. David Cotta, a China Republican who co-chairs the State and Local Government Committee, says the change will bring significant relief to Maine contractors.
Stacy Morrison of Augusta-based Ganneston Construction agrees that the change will streamline the process.
Anything Rep. Cotta votes for will in the end hurt workers.
State of Maine contracts should only go to Maine companies. Let’s keep Maine money in Maine and out of Massachusetts.
I don’t say this much these days but this seems like sensible legislation. Rather that wasting the time during evaluation of bids, pre-qualification would seem to make the process of awarding contracts easier since the financial stability and general qualifications would have already been addressed prior to deciding who has the best proposal.
once a company gains pre approval for three years no one will look at it again.come to think of it there was an article in the bdn a while ago about relation and relatives of congress obtaining contracts.amazing this new bill comes up so quick after the bdn article
New pre-qualification form : “Did you and will you continue to contribute to only republican candidates?”
The good part is you will get more bids from contractors… the bad part is going to be separating out the responsible contractors Vs. the bottom feeders that low ball every bid and walk away from the job after getting half way through it.