What's happening
This bill allows bids to the NYC School Construction Authority to not be rejected for harmless, technical, or ministerial defects if the intent is clear.
Why it matters
Reduces unnecessary bid rejections. By preventing automatic rejection of bids over minor, non-substantive errors, the bill aims to reduce administrative waste and delays in awarding contracts, potentially speeding up school construction projects.
Promotes fairness and competition. Allowing bids with harmless or technical defects (where intent is clear) to be considered could increase the pool of eligible bidders, encouraging more vendors—including smaller businesses—to participate without fear of disqualification for trivial mistakes.
Maintains accountability. The bill explicitly states it does not shield bidders from civil or criminal liability for intentional wrongdoing or fraud, ensuring that relaxing technical requirements won’t compromise oversight or enable misconduct.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Minor Bid Errors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Eases School Contract Rules
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Martin J. Golden
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
996
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ABBATE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to contracts by the New York city school construction authority
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 1734 of the public authorities law, as added by chapter 738 of the laws of 1988, is amended to read as follows:
b. The authority may reject all bids and obtain new bids in the manner provided by this section when it deems it in the public interest to do so or, in cases where two or more responsible bidders submit identical bids which are the lowest bids, award the contract to any of such bidders or obtain new bids from such bidders. Nothing herein shall obligate the authority to seek new bids after the rejection of bids or after cancellation of an invitation to bid. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the evaluation of bids on the basis of costs or savings including life cycle costs of the item to be purchased, discounts, and inspection services so long as the invitation to bid reasonably sets forth the criteria to be used in evaluating such costs or savings. Life cycle costs may include but shall not be limited to costs or savings associated with installation, energy use, maintenance, operation and salvage or disposal. A bid shall not be rejected or be deemed invalid, impaired or in any manner defective solely for harmless, technical, or ministerial defects, where the intent is clearly discernible and unintentional, provided, however, that this section shall not be deemed to relieve any bidder from any criminal or civil liability as may be imposed by reason of his or her act, nor enlarge the actual authority of any officer of the authority, nor, except as stated in this sentence, limit any other statute or rule of law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05050-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.