Section 11.117.6. Preferred products and vendors.

         117.6(1) Preference to Iowa products and services.

            a.               All requests for proposals for materials, products, supplies, provisions and other needed articles and services to be purchased at public expense shall not knowingly be written in such a way as to exclude an Iowa-based company capable of filling the needs of the purchasing entity from submitting a responsive proposal.

            b.               The department and state agencies shall make every effort to support Iowa products when making a purchase. Tied responses to solicitations, regardless of the type of solicitation, shall be decided in favor of the Iowa products. Tied bids between Iowa products shall be decided in accordance with subrule 117.13(4).

         117.6(2) Preference to Iowa-based businesses. The department and state agencies shall make every effort to support Iowa-based businesses when making a purchase. Tied responses to solicitations, regardless of the type of solicitation, shall be decided in favor of the Iowa-based business. Tied bids between Iowa-based businesses shall be decided in accordance with subrule 117.13(4).

         117.6(3) American-made products. The department and agencies shall make every effort to support American-made products when making a purchase. Tied responses to solicitations, regardless of the type of solicitation, shall be decided in favor of the American-made product. Tied bids between American-made products shall be decided in accordance with subrule 117.13(4).

         117.6(4) American-based businesses. The department and agencies shall make every effort to support American-based businesses when making a purchase. Tied responses to solicitations, regardless of the type of solicitation, shall be decided in favor of the American-based business. Tied bids between American-based businesses shall be decided in accordance with subrule 117.13(4).

         117.6(5) Recycled product and content. The department and agencies shall make every effort to protect Iowa’s environment in the procurement of goods. Recycled goods and goods that include recycled content shall be acquired when those goods are available and comparable in quality, performance, and price and there are not other mitigating factors. As required by Executive Order Number 56, the department and agencies shall whenever possible procure durable items that are readily recyclable when discarded, have minimal packaging, and are less toxic.

         117.6(6) Products made by persons with disabilities. The department and agencies shall make every effort to procure those products for sale by sheltered workshops, work activity centers, and other special programs funded in whole or in part by public moneys that employ persons with mental retardation, other developmental disabilities, or mental illness if the products meet the required specifications.

         117.6(7) Targeted small businesses. The department and agencies may buy from a targeted small business if a targeted small business is able to provide the good or service, pursuant to Iowa Code section 73.20. When enterprise master agreements with targeted small businesses are available, purchases shall be made through these master agreements.

[ARC 0952C, IAB 8/21/13, effective 9/25/13; ARC 2036C, IAB 6/10/15, effective 7/15/15]