Included here is a draft, pre-publication version of the chapter that will appear in the forthcoming publication. This draft chapter will be edited or revised prior to final publication.
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Two significant pieces of legislation affecting public contracting were enacted during the 1997 session. This first, S.L. 1997-174 (S 891), which became effective July 1, 1997, makes numerous changes in the bidding procedures that apply to local government purchasing.1 The enactment of these changes represents the culmination of efforts over the past several years by the Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing, joined this year by the North Carolina Finance Officers Association and the North Carolina League of Municipalities, to update and revise the bidding laws. The law increases statutory thresholds for certain categories of contracts, recognizes several new exceptions to the bidding requirements, and makes other changes that may be viewed best as conforming the language of the statute to reflect the way it has been applied in practice.
A second important act this session increases flexibility and autonomy in contracting for the state university system. S.L. 1997-412 (S 862) delegates significant new authority to The University of North Carolina for purchasing and construction projects.
