Ch. 66

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 66
(House Bill 583)

AN ACT concerning

Charles County - Competitive Bidding - Professional Services

FOR the purpose of altering a certain exception concerning professional services to the
competitive bidding requirement for certain work contracted by the Charles County
Commissioners; and generally relating to the professional services exception to the
competitive bidding requirement in Charles County.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 25 - County Commissioners
Section 3(1)

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1994 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 25 - County Commissioners

3.

(1) (1) To provide for competitive bidding for any county work and the making
and awarding of contracts for the purchase of materials and supplies in excess of $15,000
and to require bonds in connection with the work or contracts, regardless of the amount,
whenever the County Commissioners consider it proper to require a bond; and if no bids
are submitted in response to any request for bids, to place the order in a manner that the
County Commissioners consider appropriate.

(2)     The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection are not applicable in
[Charles and] Somerset [Counties] COUNTY with regard solely to contracting for the
services of an architectural and/or engineering firm for design and/or consultation
purposes. With regard to contracting for other county work these provisions are
applicable.

(3)     The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection are not applicable in
Frederick County with regard solely to contracting for the services of an architectural,
engineering, or consultant firm for design or consultation purposes. In Frederick County,
contracts for architectural and engineering services costing more than $15,000, shall be
awarded on a competitive basis which shall consist of either sealed competitive bids or
competitive negotiation. "Competitive negotiation" means a process that includes the
submission of written technical and price proposals from two or more sources and a
written evaluation of those proposals in accordance with evaluation criteria.

(4)     THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION ARE NOT
APPLICABLE IN CHARLES COUNTY WITH REGARD TO CONTRACTING FOR ANY
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

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