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OMB Q&A with Director Joe Morrissette: Doing business with the state of North Dakota
GNDC’s Winter Issue of the Report on Business featured an article from Joe Morrissette, Director of North Dakota Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Morrissette discussed the changing economy and how challenges and opportunities were impacting our state budget. Check out pages 12 and 13 of the magazine for the full story. Let us know if you didn't receive your copy.
GNDC sat down with Joe to further discuss OMB, beyond the state budget. This is part two of the three-part series on the state cabinet agency. See Part 1 here.
GNDC: Are there any regulations that a private business should be aware of when looking to do business with the state?
Morrissette: Vendors can apply to be placed on the state bidders list to receive notice of bidding opportunities. Vendors must:- Comply with the Secretary of State registration and reporting requirements. Details are at www.sos.nd.gov/business/vendors.
- Complete the online bidder's list application
- Select commodity codes for the goods and services their company sells.
- Keep their bidder's list profile and contact information current to ensure they receive notices.
Any incentives for in-state vendors over out-of-state regarding procurement?
Generally speaking, preference laws limit competition. Most states, including North Dakota, have a “reciprocal preference law.” If bids or proposals are received from in-state and out-of-state vendors, the procurement officer must check if the other state has a preference law. If the out-of-state vendor would receive a preference (and the North Dakota vendor would be disadvantaged), then North Dakota applies the same rate of preference.
For example, Ohio has a 5% in-state preference. If a North Dakota agency receives a bid from an Ohio vendor, FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY, the procurement officer adds 5% to the price offered by the Ohio vendor.
North Dakota has an in-state preference law related to printing that requires printing to be obtained from in-state vendors when practicable.
Visit the OMB website for more information about state preference laws.
Part three is available here.