April 15, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Barca, Danou, Zepnick and
Ohnstad. Referred to Committee on State Affairs and Government
Operations.
AB166,1,5 1An Act to repeal 16.75 (1) (b) 2. and 16.75 (2m) (b) 2.; to renumber and amend
216.75 (1) (a) 1.; to amend 16.75 (1) (b) 1., 16.75 (1) (b) 3., 16.75 (1) (c), 16.75 (2m)
3(a), 16.75 (2m) (b) 1. and 16.75 (2m) (c); and to create 16.75 (1) (a) 1. c. of the
4statutes; relating to: the purchase of food by the Board of Regents of the
5University of Wisconsin System.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law generally authorizes state agencies to purchase materials,
supplies, or equipment under certain circumstances. With some exceptions,
purchases for which the estimated cost exceeds $50,000 require bids to be invited or
sealed proposals to be solicited and the order must be awarded to the lowest
responsible bidder or most competitive sealed proposal. In determining the lowest
responsible bidder the agency must consider the location of the agency, the quantities
of the articles to be supplied, the conformity of the bids with the specifications in the
invitation to bid, and the purpose for which the materials, supplies, or equipment are
required and their delivery date. In determining the most competitive sealed
proposal, the agency must consider factors outlined in the solicitation for competitive
sealed proposals.
This bill creates an exception to these provisions if the Board of Regents of the
University of Wisconsin System (board) is purchasing food. Under this bill, when the
board is considering bids or proposals for the purchase of food, factors other than
price may not comprise more than 50 percent of the total factors used to determine
the lowest bid or most competitive sealed proposal.

Current law also provides that if the estimated cost of a purchase is $25,000 or
less, the department may use simplified procedures for making an award. This bill
allows the department to use simplified procedures if the estimated cost of a
purchase is $50,000 or less.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB166,1 1Section 1. 16.75 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 16.75 (1) (a) 1. a. and
2amended to read:
AB166,2,93 16.75 (1) (a) 1. a. All orders awarded or contracts made by the department for
4all materials, supplies, equipment, and contractual services to be provided to any
5agency, except as otherwise provided in par. (c) and subs. (2), (2g), (2m), (3m), (3t),
6(6), (7), (8), (9), (10e), and (10m) and ss. 16.705 (1r), 16.73 (4) (a), 16.751, 16.754, 50.05
7(7) (f), 153.05 (2m) (a), 165.987, and 287.15 (7), shall be awarded to the lowest
8responsible bidder, taking into consideration to be determined as provided in subd.
91. b. and c.
AB166,2,14 10b. Except as provided in subd. 1. c., the person who determines the lowest
11responsible bidder shall consider
life cycle cost estimates under sub. (1m), when
12appropriate, the location of the agency, the quantities of the articles to be supplied,
13their conformity with the specifications, and the purposes for which they are
14required and the date of delivery.
AB166,2 15Section 2. 16.75 (1) (a) 1. c. of the statutes is created to read:
AB166,2,1916 16.75 (1) (a) 1. c. If the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin-System
17is purchasing food and the purchase is subject to par. (b), factors other than price may
18not comprise more than 50 percent of the total factors used to determine the lowest
19responsible bidder.
AB166,3
1Section 3. 16.75 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB166,3,32 16.75 (1) (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., when When the estimated cost
3exceeds $25,000 $50,000, the department shall invite bids to be submitted.
AB166,4 4Section 4. 16.75 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
AB166,5 5Section 5. 16.75 (1) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB166,3,176 16.75 (1) (b) 3. If subd. 1. or 2. requires bids to be solicited, the department
7either shall solicit sealed bids to be opened publicly at a specified date and time, or
8shall solicit bidding by auction to be conducted electronically at a specified date and
9time. Whenever bids are invited, due notice inviting bids shall be published as a class
102 notice, under ch. 985 or posted on the Internet at a site determined or approved by
11the department. The bid opening or auction shall occur at least 7 days after the date
12of the last insertion of the notice or at least 7 days after the date of posting on the
13Internet. The notice shall specify whether sealed bids are invited or bids will be
14accepted by auction, and shall give a clear description of the materials, supplies,
15equipment, or contractual services to be purchased, the amount of any bond, share
16draft, check, or other draft to be submitted as surety with the bid or prior to the
17auction, and the date and time that the public opening or the auction will be held.
AB166,6 18Section 6. 16.75 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB166,3,2119 16.75 (1) (c) Except as provided in sub. (7), when the estimated cost is $25,000
20$50,000 or less, the award may be made in accordance with simplified procedures
21established by the department for such transactions.
AB166,7 22Section 7. 16.75 (2m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB166,4,523 16.75 (2m) (a) Except as otherwise required by law, if the secretary or his or
24her designee determines that the use of competitive sealed bidding is not practicable
25or not advantageous to this state, the department may solicit competitive sealed

1proposals. Each request for competitive sealed proposals shall state the relative
2importance of price and other evaluation factors. If the Board of Regents of the
3University of Wisconsin-System is purchasing food, factors other than price may not
4comprise more than 50 percent of the total factors used to determine the most
5competitive sealed proposal.
AB166,8 6Section 8. 16.75 (2m) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB166,4,87 16.75 (2m) (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., when When the estimated cost
8exceeds $25,000 $50,000, the department may invite competitive sealed proposals.
AB166,9 9Section 9. 16.75 (2m) (b) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
AB166,10 10Section 10. 16.75 (2m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB166,4,1311 16.75 (2m) (c) When the estimated cost is $25,000 $50,000 or less, the
12department may award the order or contract in accordance with simplified
13procedures established by the department for such transactions.
AB166,11 14Section 11. Initial applicability.
AB166,4,1615 (1) This act first applies with respect to bids or proposals solicited on the
16effective date of this subsection.
AB166,4,1717 (End)
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