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136F.581 PURCHASES AND CONTRACTS.
    Subdivision 1. Authority for purchases and contracts. The board and the colleges and
universities are subject to the provisions of section 471.345. In addition to the contracting
authority under this chapter, the Board of Trustees may utilize any contracting options available to
the commissioner of administration under chapter 16A, 16B, or 16C.
    Subd. 2. Policies and procedures. The board shall develop policies for purchases and
contracts that are consistent with the authority granted in subdivision 1. The policies and
procedures shall be developed through the system and campus labor management committees and
shall include provisions requiring the system and campuses to determine that they cannot use
available staff before contracting with additional outside consultants or services. In addition, each
college and university, in consultation with the office of the chancellor, shall develop procedures
for those purchases and contracts that can be accomplished by a college and university without
board approval. The board policies must allow each college and university the local authority to
enter into contracts for construction projects of up to $250,000 and to make other purchases of up
to $50,000, without receiving board approval. The board may allow a college or university local
authority to make purchases over $50,000 without receiving board approval.
    Subd. 3. Procurement from designated businesses. The policies and procedures must
include provisions for procurement, including construction, from small targeted group businesses
and businesses from economically disadvantaged areas designated under section 16C.16. The
board, colleges, and universities shall use the methods contained in section 471.345, subdivision
8
, for such purchasing, or may develop additional methods in which the cost percentage
preferences are consistent with the provision of section 16C.16, subdivisions 6, paragraph (a),
and 7, or consistent with the provisions of the University of Minnesota's targeted group business
purchasing program.
    Subd. 4. Professional or technical services. (a) The board shall develop policies for
entering into contracts for professional or technical services, other than instructional services.
The policies must allow each college and university the authority to enter into contracts for
professional or technical services up to $15,000 without board approval. The board may allow
a college or university authority to enter into contracts for professional or technical services
over $15,000 without receiving board approval.
(b) Each college and university, in consultation with the system office, shall develop
procedures to enter into contracts for professional or technical services.
(c) The policies and procedures developed by the board and by each college and university
for professional or technical service contracts must be done in consultation with employees and
their exclusive bargaining representatives and must address topics such as employee protections,
information availability and reporting, conflict of interest, and renewal restrictions.
History: 1996 c 398 s 47; 1997 c 183 art 3 s 22; 1998 c 386 art 2 s 48; 2003 c 133 art 4 s 4,5

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Revisor of Statutes