IdahoIdaho agencies would explain choices under multiple-vendor contracts
Starting July 1, 2026, Idaho state agencies would document vendor choices, while vendors and procurement officials would face added protest, performance, and ethics rules.
What it does
When several vendors win a contract for the same or similar property, agencies would compare costs, fit, delivery, support, and reliability before choosing one. Recurring purchases would require yearly reviews.
People and vendors challenging bid rules or certain rejected bids would have to post a bond. The state could keep it when a denied protest is found frivolous.
Vendors could face temporary bidding bans for serious performance problems, while procurement employees could face discipline for ethical breaches. Vendor representatives would report spending over $50.
Argument forClearer comparisons among vendors could help agencies choose supplies that fit their systems and meet delivery needs.
Argument againstLarge protest bonds could make it harder for smaller vendors to challenge questionable bid rules or rejected bids.
More detail
State agencies would choose among multiple awarded vendors using factors such as total cost, compatibility, delivery, support, reliability, and past performance. This applies when a contract awards the same or similar property to two or more bidders. Agencies making recurring purchases would perform the comparison at least once each year and provide it to the purchasing administrator. Agencies would notify the administrator of the vendors considered, the factors given priority, and why the selected vendor was chosen. The provision would apply to purchases made under multiple-award contracts beginning July 1, 2026.
A person or vendor filing certain procurement protests or appeals would have to post a bond when filing. This covers formal challenges to bid specifications and appeals of rejected, nonresponsive bids. The bond would be 1% of an estimated contract below $10 million, or 0.5% for a contract of $10 million or more, capped at $10 million. The agency would provide the estimated contract value within 24 hours after a written request. A protest without the required bond would be dismissed immediately. The bond would be returned if the protest or appeal succeeds. If it fails and is found frivolous, the state would keep the bond, and the finding could support vendor debarment. The bond rules would apply to covered filings beginning July 1, 2026.
The purchasing administrator could bar a vendor from bidding for up to three years after finding performance failure, and supervisors could discipline state employees for unethical procurement conduct. The vendor rules cover failed performance, missed contract deadlines without good cause, and three or more frivolous protests within 24 months. The ethics rules cover state officers, employees, vendors, and people acting for vendors. For failures that do not pose an immediate risk to public health, safety, or integrity, the administrator would generally send a written cure notice and allow 14 calendar days to correct the problem or submit an acceptable plan. A vendor or representative who commits an unethical breach could be disqualified. After due process, an employee could receive a warning, suspension with or without pay, or termination. Vendors and people acting for them would report financial spending over $50 to the secretary of state, including meal and travel reimbursements. These provisions would take effect July 1, 2026; the 14-day cure period would begin when the vendor receives the notice.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on April 2, 2026 Session Law Chapter 283 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Apr 1Delivered to Governor at 12:50 p.m. on April 1, 2026To Governor
- Apr 1Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 31Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 31Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 31Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 31Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 30Read third time in full – PASSED - 21-14-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Guthrie, Harris, Lakey, Lent, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Bjerke(Bjerke), Carlson, Foreman, Grow, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Shippy, Toews, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - BlaylockTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 20Introduced, read first time; referred to: State AffairsMinor
- Mar 20Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 19Rules Suspended: Ayes 64 Nays 4 Abs/Excd 2, read in full as required – PASSED - 57-11-2AYES – Alfieri, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Rubel, Sauter, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Barbieri, Beiswenger, Cayler, Harris, Hawkins, Hostetler, Price, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, WisniewskiAbsent – Green, LeavittFloor Sponsor - RaybouldTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 64 Nays 4 Abs/Excd 2, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 19Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 13Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
- Mar 12Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
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