Procurement – Electronic Transactions – Clarification of Fees Due

HB 284 clarifies that fees collected from businesses bidding or submitting proposals for state procurement contracts via electronic systems must be paid directly to the State, not to third-party vendors. The bill requires that any fees due to the State be deposited into the Operations Revenue Fund, as specified in Maryland law. It mandates that fees for electronic procurement must first be approved by the Chief Procurement Officer and, for certain fees, by the Board of Public Works. This bill directly affects state procurement units and businesses participating in electronic bidding processes for government contracts.