(A) The director of transportation may debar a vendor from consideration for contract awards upon a finding based upon a reasonable belief that the vendor has done any of the following:

(1) Abused the solicitation process by repeatedly withdrawing bids before purchase orders or contracts are issued or failing to accept orders based upon firm bids;

(2) Failed to substantially perform a contract according to its terms, conditions, and specifications within specified time limits;

(3) Failed to cooperate in monitoring contract performance by refusing to provide information or documents required in a contract, failed to respond and correct matters related to complaints to the vendor, or accumulated repeated justified complaints regarding performance of a contract;

(4) Attempted to influence a public employee to breach ethical conduct standards;

(5) Colluded with other bidders to restrain competition by any means;

(6) Been convicted of a criminal offense related to the application for or performance of any public or private contract, including, but not limited to, embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property, and any other offense that directly reflects on the vendor's business integrity;

(7) Been convicted under state or federal antitrust laws;

(8) Deliberately or willfully submitted false or misleading information in connection with the application for or performance of a public contract;

(9) Has been debarred by a state agency, another state, or by any agency or department of the federal government;

(10) Violated any other responsible business practice or performed in an unsatisfactory manner as determined by the director.

(B) When the director reasonably believes that grounds for debarment exist, the director shall send the vendor a notice of proposed debarment. If the vendor is a partnership, association, or corporation, the director also may debar from consideration for contract awards any partner of the partnership, or the officers and directors of the association or corporation, being debarred. When the director reasonably believes that grounds for debarment exist, the director shall send the individual involved a notice of proposed debarment. A notice of proposed debarment shall indicate the grounds for the debarment of the vendor or individual and the procedure for requesting a hearing. The notice and hearing shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. If the vendor or individual does not respond with a request for a hearing in the manner specified in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the director shall issue the debarment decision without a hearing and shall notify the vendor or individual of the decision by certified mail, return receipt requested. The debarment period may be of any length determined by the director and the director may modify or rescind the debarment at any time. During the period of debarment, the director shall not include on a bidder list or consider for a contract award any partnership, association, or corporation affiliated with a debarred individual. After the debarment period expires, the vendor or individual, and any partnership, association, or corporation affiliated with the individual, may reapply for inclusion on bidder lists through the regular application process if such entity or individual is not otherwise debarred.

Amended by 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.

Effective Date: 06-30-1997 .