Resolve, Requiring the Commissioner of Administrative and
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1449
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: TIPPING

Legislative Document
No. 1449
S.P. 590
In Senate, April 3, 2025
Resolve, Requiring the Commissioner of Administrative and 
Financial Services to Conduct a Study of the State's Grant, 
Contracting and Procurement Practices
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator TIPPING of Penobscot.
Sec. 1. Grant, contracting and procurement practices study. Resolved: That 
the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services, referred to in this resolve as 
"the commissioner," shall conduct a comprehensive study of the State's grant, contracting 
and procurement practices.
Sec. 2. Scope. Resolved: That the study conducted under section 1 must include an 
evaluation of:
1.  Current state grant and contract reimbursement rates and identification of historical 
cost-of-living or inflation adjustments;
2.  Application procedures for contracts across state agencies;
3.  Standard contract language that permits flexibility in terms and conditions, allows 
for multiyear contract terms and clarifies when upfront payments are permitted;
4.  Delays that have occurred in grant execution and payment;
5.  The impact of state grant and contracting practices on wages for employees of 
contracted nonprofit organizations;
6.  Best practices from other states or regions and alignment of state practices with 
applicable federal standards;
7.  Whether state agency staffing levels are adequate to draft, answer questions about 
and process contracts and, if the levels are not adequate, recommendations on adequate 
staffing levels or alternative methods for management;
8.  Complications arising from the tiered procurement process that may require 
multiple agencies to review contracts;
9.  The number of appeals and overturned decisions related to procurement processes;
10.  Request-for-proposal processes and response scoring considerations;
11.  Strategies for implementing new federal procurement and contracts guidance into 
state policies and regulations;
12.  Inefficiencies, potential risks or barriers to equitable access in the grant 
procurement process; 
13.  The feasibility of using master contracts that may be amended as needed; and
14.  The feasibility of allocating funds carried forward from the previous fiscal year to 
service providers or nonprofit organizations to sustain the operation of existing programs 
when state agency contracts with those providers or nonprofit organizations are delayed.
Sec. 3. Stakeholder engagement. Resolved: That the commissioner shall engage 
with stakeholders, including representatives from nonprofit organizations, the Department 
of Administrative and Financial Services, Office of State Procurement Services, private 
sector experts and other relevant parties, to gather input and ensure the study conducted 
under section 1 is comprehensive and inclusive.
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That, by January 1, 2026, the commissioner shall submit 
a report with findings and recommendations pursuant to the study conducted under section 
to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government.  The report must include 
specific recommendations to ensure efficiency, transparency, equity and accountability in 
the distribution and management of public funds.  The Joint Standing Committee on State 
and Local Government is authorized to report out a bill based on the commissioner's 
findings and recommendations to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services to 
conduct a comprehensive study of the State's grant, contracting and procurement practices. 
The commissioner is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations, 
including specific recommendations to ensure efficiency, transparency, equity and 
accountability in the distribution and management of public funds, by January 1, 2026 to 
the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government, which may report out a bill 
based on the findings and recommendations to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd 
Legislature.