GA Code § 50-5-73 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 50 - State Government|Chapter 5 - Department of Administrative Services|Article 3 - State Purchasing|Part 1 - General Authority, Duties, and Procedure|§ 50-5-73. Goods and Services to Be Obtained From Correctional Industries When Certified as Available

  All services provided or goods, wares, or merchandise produced wholly or in part by the Georgia Correctional Industries Administration and needed by the departments, institutions, and agencies of the state and its political subdivisions supported wholly or in part by public funds shall be obtained from the Georgia Correctional Industries Administration where such services, goods, wares, or merchandise have been certified in writing by the commissioner of corrections as available and of competitive quality and price. Where not certified as available from the Georgia Correctional Industries Administration, services, goods, wares, or merchandise shall be obtained from other agencies or activities of the state which are legally authorized to engage in the provision of such and have certified the availability with the advice and consent of the Department of Administrative Services.   The Georgia Correctional Industries Administration and the commissioner of corrections shall report to the Department of Administrative Services the certification criteria, including but not limited to cost, delivery schedules, and availability within 15 days of notice of certification.   The Georgia Correctional Industries Administration shall notify the Department of Administrative Services of any changes to certified products or services available pursuant to this Code section within 15 days of any such changes.    (Ga. L. 1937, p. 503, § 16; Ga. L. 1975, p. 488, § 1; Ga. L. 1978, p. 1054, § 3; Ga. L. 1985, p. 283, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 885, § 8.)   Cross references.   - Georgia Correctional Industries Administration generally, T. 42, C. 10.   Editor's notes.   - Ga. L. 1996, p. 885, § 1, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "This Act shall be known and may be cited as the 'Purchasing Reform Act of 1996.'"   Ga. L. 1996, p. 885, § 2, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "The General Assembly declares and finds that many of the laws establishing guidelines and requirements for the purchasing of supplies, materials, and equipment by and for state departments and agencies were developed decades earlier and prior to the increase in available sources of supply and the expansion of technology. It is the intent of the General Assembly that these laws be amended to reflect these changes in order to provide greater flexibility for state agencies to make their purchases and to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy which can result in purchase delays and increased administrative costs."   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL    Purpose of this section  is to remove the purchase of goods manufactured by the Georgia Correctional Industries Administration or other agencies included in this section from having to be purchased through sealed competitive bidding. 1960-61 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 440.    Georgia Correctional Industries Administration must utilize department  in buying raw materials which will be used in the manufacture and production of products for resale. 1967 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 67-316.    Factory for the Blind also covered by O.C.G.A. § 50-5-73. - Georgia Factory for the Blind is one of the other agencies or activities of the state within the meaning of this section. 1960-61 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 440.   Contracts with department for manufacture of license plates.   - Department of Offender Rehabilitation (now Department of Corrections) is under an affirmative responsibility to negotiate with the Department of Administrative Services for the contract for the manufacture of license plates, and, in this regard, to advise all participating agencies as to the material specifications which will best utilize existing equipment. 1969 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 69-435.