§ 74-85.41. Professional services contracts.  


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  • A.  A state agency that acquires professional services shall comply with the provisions of this section.

    B.  The state agency shall evaluate the performance of the professional services provided pursuant to all professional services contracts exceeding the “fair and reasonable” dollar threshold.  The performance evaluation shall indicate the quality of service or work product of the supplier.  The state agency shall retain the evaluation in the document file the state agency maintains for the acquisition pursuant to Section 85.39 of this title.  If the evaluation indicates deficiencies with the supplier’s work, the state agency shall send a copy of the evaluation to the State Purchasing Director.

    C.  If the work product of the contract is a report, the state agency shall file the report with the State Librarian and Archivist.

    D.  A state agency shall administer, monitor, and audit the professional services contract.  The State Purchasing Director may require the state agency to report to the State Purchasing Director the status of an unfinished professional services contract.

    E.  A professional services contract shall include an audit clause which provides that all items of the supplier that relate to the professional services are subject to examination by the state agency, the State Auditor and Inspector and the State Purchasing Director.

    F.  1.  If the final product of the professional services contract is a written proposal, report, or study, the professional services contract shall require the supplier to certify that the supplier has not previously provided the state agency or another state agency with a final product that is a substantial duplication of the final product of the proposed contract.

    2.  Any state agency renewing a contract with a supplier shall not be subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 of this subsection.

    G.  1.  Contracts for professional services shall provide for payment for services at a uniform rate throughout the duration of the contract if the services throughout the duration of the contract are similar and consistent.

    2.  No state agency shall execute a contract for professional services providing for nonuniform payments throughout the duration of the contract without authorization of the State Purchasing Director.

Added by Laws 1986, c. 173, § 6, emerg. eff. May 12, 1986.  Amended by Laws 1992, c. 250, § 2, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 1994, c. 302, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 1998, c. 371, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 1998; Laws 1999, c. 289, § 12, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2002, c. 483, § 5, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2009, c. 322, § 11; Laws 2011, c. 207, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.