§ 143-129.5.  Purchases from nonprofit work centers for the blind and severely disabled.

(a) Notwithstanding G.S. 143-129, a city, county, or other governmental entity subject to this Article may purchase goods and services directly from a nonprofit work center for the blind and severely disabled, as defined in G.S. 143-48.

(b) The Secretary of Administration shall, at least annually, canvass nonprofit work centers for the blind and severely disabled for goods and services required by the State government or any of its departments, institutions, or agencies and shall purchase or contract for the purchase, lease, or lease-purchase of those goods and services. The Secretary shall establish and enforce specifications that shall apply to all goods and services to be purchased or leased from nonprofit work centers for the use of the State government or any of its departments, institutions, or agencies. Except as provided in G.S. 148-134, where one or more sources of supply have been established by contract and certified by the Secretary of Administration to State departments, institutions, and agencies, it shall be the duty of all State departments, institutions, and agencies to make requisition or issue orders on forms to be prescribed by the Secretary of Administration for purchases required by them upon the sources of supply so certified. No State department, institution, or agency shall purchase from any sources other than those certified by the Secretary unless the requisition cannot be fulfilled because of insufficient availability of goods or services required. The Secretary shall, in any contract or lease, require that nonprofit work centers maintain the price of goods or services substantially in accord with that paid by governmental agencies for similar goods or services of equivalent quality. The provisions of G.S. 143-52 shall not apply to purchases made pursuant to this section. However, nothing in this section shall prohibit a nonprofit work center from submitting bids or making offers for contracts under G.S. 143-52.

(c) The Department of Administration shall report annually to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General Government on its administration of the programs described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. (1995, c. 265, ss. 4, 5; 1999-20, s. 1; 2021-180, s. 20.12(a).)