§ Iowa Code § 47.5Purchasing by competitive bidding

47.5 Purchasing by competitive bidding.
1. Except for legal services and printing of ballots, the commissioner shall take bids for
goods and services which are needed in connection with registration of voters or preparation
for or administration of elections and which will be performed or provided by persons who
are not employees of the commissioner under the following circumstances:
a. In any case where it is proposed to purchase data processing services.
The
commissioner shall give the registrar written notice in advance on each occasion when it is
proposed to have data processing services, necessary in connection with the administration
of elections, performed by any person other than the registrar or an employee of the county.
Such notice shall be made at least thirty days prior to publication of the specifications.
b. In all other cases, where the cost of the goods or services to be purchased will exceed
one thousand dollars.
2. When it is proposed to purchase any goods or services, other than data processing
services, in connection with administration of elections, the commissioner shall publish
notice to bidders, including specifications regarding the goods or services to be purchased
or a description of the nature and object of the services to be retained, in a newspaper
of general circulation in the county not less than fifteen days before the final date for
submission of bids. When competitive bidding procedures are used, the purchase of goods
or services shall be made from the lowest responsible bidder which meets the specifications
or description of the services needed or the commissioner may reject all bids and readvertise.
In determining the lowest responsible bidder, various factors may be considered, including
but not limited to the past performance of the bidder relative to quality of product or service,
the past experience of the purchaser in relation to the product or service, the relative quality
of products or services, the proposed terms of delivery and the best interest of the county.
3. The procedure for purchasing data processing services in connection with
administration of elections is the same as prescribed in subsection 2, except that the
required copy of the bid specifications shall be filed with the registrar rather than the state
commissioner. The specifications for data processing contracts relative to voter registration
records shall be specified by the registration commission. The registrar shall, not later
than the final date for submission of bids, inform the commissioner in writing whether the
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Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 47 (33, 1)
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ELECTION COMMISSIONERS, §47.6
department of administrative services data processing facilities are currently capable of
furnishing the services the county proposes to purchase, and if so the cost to the county of
so obtaining the services as determined in accordance with the standard charges adopted by
the registration commission. The commissioner, with approval of the board of supervisors,
may reject all bids and enter into an arrangement with the registrar for the services to be
furnished by the state. The commissioner may recommend and the board of supervisors
may approve purchasing the needed services from the lowest responsible bidder; however,
if the needed services could be obtained through the registrar at a lower cost, the board
shall publish notice twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of its intent to
accept such bid and of the difference in the amount of the bid and the cost of purchasing
the needed services from the department of administrative services data processing facilities
through the registrar. Each contract for the furnishing of data processing services necessary
in connection with the administration of elections, by any person other than the registrar or
an employee of the county, shall be executed with the contractor by the board of supervisors
of the county purchasing the services, but only after the contract has been reviewed and
approved by the registration commission. The contract shall be of not more than one year’s
duration. Each county exercising the option to purchase such data processing services
from a provider other than the registrar shall provide the registrar, at the county’s expense,
original and updated voter registration lists in a form and at times prescribed by rules
adopted by the registration commission.
4. Any election or registration data or records which may be in the possession of a
contractor shall remain the property of the commissioner. Contracts with a private person
relating to the maintenance and use of voter registration data, which were properly entered
into in compliance with this section and with all other laws relating to bidding on such
contracts, shall remain in force only until the most recently negotiated termination date of
that contract. A new contract with the same provider may be entered into in accordance
with subsection 3.
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