purchasing

Maine Resident Bidder Preference

Revised August 14, 2024

Maine Revised Statutes

Title 5. Administrative Procedures and Services

Part 4. Finance

Chapter 155. Purchases

Subchapter 1-a. Rules Governing the Competitive Bid Process

§ 1825-B. Bids, awards, contracts and grants

8. Tie bids. The Director of the Bureau of General Services shall award contracts, grants or purchases to in-state bidders or to bidders offering commodities produced or manufactured in the State if the price, quality, availability and other factors are equivalent.

9. Determination of best-value bidder. In determining the best-value bidder, the Director of the Bureau of General Services or any department or agency of the State shall, for the purpose of competitively awarding a contract or grant, add a percent increase on the bid of a nonresident bidder equal to the percent, if any, of the preference given to that bidder in the state in which the bidder resides.

Maine Revised Statutes

Title 26. Labor and Industry

Chapter 15. Preference to Maine Works and Contractors

§ 1301. Local residents preferred; exception

The State, counties, cities and towns, and every charitable or educational institution which is supported in whole or in part by aid granted by the State or by any municipality shall, in the awarding of contracts for constructing, altering, repairing, furnishing or equipping its buildings or public works, give preference to workmen and to bidders for such contracts who are residents of this State, provided the bids submitted by such resident bidders are equally favorable with bids submitted by contractors from without the State. This section shall not apply to construction or repairs amounting to less than $1,000 or to emergency work or to state road work.

Any contract for public improvement that is awarded by the State or any department or agency of the State is subject to the competitive bidding process established under Title 5, chapter 155, subchapter I-A.