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Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Law to level playing field for Kentucky businesses goes into effect
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A law signed by Gov. Steve Beshear last year to provide Kentucky-based businesses a level playing field when competing with out-of-state vendors for Kentucky state government contracts is now fully implemented and being applied in the state procurement process.
“My goal is to help strengthen existing Kentucky businesses and protect our valuable jobs,” said Gov. Beshear. “I want Kentucky businesses to have every tool available to create more jobs and help dig our way out of the current economic crisis.”
The regulation outlining how the reciprocal procurement law will be applied in the awarding of state contracts went into effect on Feb. 4, 2011.
Originally proposed by Sen. Gary Tapp during the 2010 Regular Legislative Session, the law requires Kentucky’s public contracting agencies, in determining procurement awards, to give preference to in-state bidders against out-of-state bidders, equal to the preference given to those out-of-state bidders when they bid on contracts in their home state.
If the low bidder for a government contract is from a state that grants a 10 percent preference to its own in-state bidders, then Kentucky-based businesses will receive a 10 percent preference against that out-of-state bidder. With the enactment of this legislation, Kentucky joins 35 other states that have similar legislation.
To learn more about Kentucky’s reciprocal procurement law, call 502-564-4510 or email Don.speer@ky.gov.
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