Pennsylvania SB 1318: An Act amending Titles 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns), 11 (Cities) and 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in contracts, further providing for regulation of contracts; in contracts, further providing for contracts or purchases in excess of base amount of $18,500, for contracts or purchases not in excess of base amount of $18,500, for contracts or purchases not requiring advertising or bidding, for evasion of advertising requirements and for separate bids for plumbing, heating, ventilating and electrical work, elevators and escalators; in general provisions relating to area government and intergovernmental cooperation, further providing for bids for certain joint purchases, for written or telephonic price quotations required and for division of transactions provided; in parking authorities, further providing for competition in award of contracts; in municipal authorities, further providing for competition in award of contracts; and making an editorial change.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1673
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1318
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN AND STEFANO, MAY 1, 2026
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MAY 1, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Titles 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns), 11 (Cities)
and 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in contracts, further providing for
regulation of contracts; in contracts, further providing for
contracts or purchases in excess of base amount of $18,500,
for contracts or purchases not in excess of base amount of
$18,500, for contracts or purchases not requiring advertising
or bidding, for evasion of advertising requirements and for
separate bids for plumbing, heating, ventilating and
electrical work, elevators and escalators; in general
provisions relating to area government and intergovernmental
cooperation, further providing for bids for certain joint
purchases, for written or telephonic price quotations
required and for division of transactions provided; in
parking authorities, further providing for competition in
award of contracts; in municipal authorities, further
providing for competition in award of contracts; and making
an editorial change.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1402(a) and (a.1) of Title 8 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
§ 1402. Regulation of contracts.
(a) Requirements.--All contracts or purchases in excess of
the base amount of [$18,500] $100,000, subject to adjustment
under subsection (a.2), except those mentioned in this section
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and except as provided by the act of October 27, 1979 (P.L.241,
No.78), entitled "An act authorizing political subdivisions,
municipality authorities and transportation authorities to enter
into contracts for the purchase of goods and the sale of real
and personal property where no bids are received," shall not be
made except with and from the lowest qualified and responsible
bidder after due notice in one newspaper of general circulation,
at least two times at intervals of not less than three days
where daily newspapers of general circulation are available for
publication and, in case of weekly newspapers, notice once a
week for two successive weeks. The first advertisement shall be
published not more than 45 days and the second advertisement not
less than ten days prior to the date fixed for the opening of
bids. Advertisements for contracts or purchases must also be
posted in a conspicuous place within the borough. Advertisements
for contracts and purchases must contain the date, time and
location for opening of bids and must state the amount of the
performance bond determined under subsection (c). The amount of
the contract must in all cases, whether of straight sale price,
conditional sale, lease, lease purchase or otherwise, be the
entire amount which the borough pays to the successful bidder or
the bidder's assigns in order to obtain the services or
property, or both, and may not be construed to mean only the
amount that is paid to acquire title or to receive another
particular benefit of the whole bargain.
(a.1) Price quotations.--Written or telephonic price
quotations from at least three qualified and responsible
contractors must be requested for contracts in excess of the
base amount of [$10,000] $50,000, subject to adjustment under
subsection (a.2), and less than the amount requiring
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advertisement and competitive bidding, or, in lieu of price
quotations, a memorandum must be kept on file showing that fewer
than three qualified contractors exist in the market area within
which it is practicable to obtain quotations. A written record
of telephonic price quotations must be made and must contain at
least the date of the quotation, the name of the contractor and
the contractor's representative, the construction,
reconstruction, repair, maintenance or work that was the subject
of the quotation and the price. Written price quotations,
written records of telephonic price quotations and memoranda
must be retained for a period of three years. Written price
quotations as used throughout this section include electronic
mail.
* * *
Section 2. Sections 11901.1, 11901.2, 11901.4(a) and (b)
introductory paragraph, 11902(1), 11903.1 introductory paragraph
and 11909(1) of Title 11 are amended to read:
§ 11901.1. Contracts or purchases in excess of certain base
amount [of $18,500].
(a) General rule.--Except as provided in section 11901.4(b)
(relating to contracts or purchases not requiring advertising or
bidding), all contracts or purchases in excess of the base
amount of [$18,500] $100,000, subject to adjustment under
section 11903.1 (relating to adjustments to base amount based on
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers), shall be subject
to advertising and co