Public contracts: bid preference: ESOPs.

The State Contract Act governs state contracts for public works projects and generally requires that a contract be rewarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Under the act, projects not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Water Resources, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of Transportation, the High-Speed Rail Authority, or the Military Department are under the sole charge and direct control of the Department of General Services. This bill would require an entity awarding a contract pursuant to the act to provide a 3% bid preference to a qualified ESOP bidder, as defined.