(A) Except for the requirements of division (B) of this section, section 125.092, and division (B) of section 125.11 of the Revised Code, sections 125.04 to 125.08 and 125.09 to 125.15 of the Revised Code do not apply to or affect state institutions of higher education.

(B)

(1) As used in this division:

(a) "Chartered nonpublic school" has the same meaning as in section 3310.01 of the Revised Code.

(b) "Emergency medical service organization" has the same meaning as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(c) "Governmental agency" means a political subdivision or special district in this state established by or under law, or any combination of these entities; the United States or any department, division, or agency of the United States; one or more other states or groups of states; other purchasing consortia; and any agency, commission, or authority established under an interstate compact or agreement.

(d) "Political subdivision" means any county, township, municipal corporation, school district, conservancy district, township park district, park district created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, regional transit authority, regional airport authority, regional water and sewer district, or port authority. "Political subdivision" also includes any other political subdivision described in the Revised Code that has been approved by the department of administrative services to participate in the department's contracts under this division.

(e) "Private fire company" has the same meaning as in section 9.60 of the Revised Code.

(f) "State institution of higher education" has the meaning defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.

(2) Subject to division (C) of this section, the department of administrative services may permit a state institution of higher education, governmental agency, political subdivision, county board of elections, private fire company, private, nonprofit emergency medical service organization, or chartered nonpublic school to participate in contracts into which the department has entered for the purchase of supplies and services. The department may charge the entity a reasonable fee to cover the administrative costs the department incurs as a result of participation by the entity in such a purchase contract.

A political subdivision desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a certified copy of an ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority or governing board of the political subdivision. The resolution or ordinance shall request that the political subdivision be authorized to participate in such contracts and shall agree that the political subdivision will be bound by such terms and conditions as the department prescribes and that it will directly pay the vendor under each purchase contract. A board of elections desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the purchasing authority a written request for inclusion in the program. A private fire company, private, nonprofit emergency medical service organization, or chartered nonpublic school desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a written request for inclusion in the program signed by the chief officer of the company, organization, or chartered nonpublic school. A governmental agency desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a written request for inclusion in the program. A state institution of higher education desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a certified copy of resolution of the board of trustees or similar authorizing body. The resolution shall request that the state institution of higher education be authorized to participate in such contracts.

A request for inclusion shall include an agreement to be bound by such terms and conditions as the department prescribes and to make direct payments to the vendor under each purchase contract.

The department shall include in its annual report, an estimate of the purchases made by state institutions of higher education, governmental agencies, political subdivisions, county boards of elections, private fire companies, private, nonprofit emergency medical service organizations, and chartered nonpublic schools from contracts pursuant to this division. The department may require such entities to file a report with the department, as often as it finds necessary, stating how many such contracts the entities participated in within a specified period of time, and any other information the department requires.

(3) Purchases made by a political subdivision or a county board of elections under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. No political subdivision shall make any purchase under this division when bids have been received for such purchase by the subdivision, unless such purchase can be made upon the same terms, conditions, and specifications at a lower price under this division.

(C) A political subdivision as defined in division (B) of this section or a county board of elections may purchase supplies or services from another party, including a political subdivision, instead of through participation in contracts described in division (B) of this section if the political subdivision or county board of elections can purchase those supplies or services from the other party upon equivalent terms, conditions, and specifications but at a lower price than it can through those contracts. Purchases that a political subdivision or county board of elections makes under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. A political subdivision or county board of elections that makes any purchase under this division shall maintain sufficient information regarding the purchase to verify that the political subdivision or county board of elections satisfied the conditions for making a purchase under this division. Nothing in this division restricts any action taken by a county or township as authorized by division (B)(1) of section 9.48 of the Revised Code.

(D) This section does not apply to supplies or services purchased by a state agency directly as provided in section 125.05 of the Revised Code, or to purchases of supplies or services for the emergency management agency or other state agencies as provided in section 125.061 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2017.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.20, SB 131, §1, eff. 5/31/2010.

Effective Date: 11-03-2000; 11-05-2004; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007; 2008 SB268 09-12-2008; 2008 HB562 09-22-2008