(1) For purposes of this section, the term:

(a) “Competitive solicitation” has the same meaning as in s. 255.248.

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 255.0991

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • political subdivision: include counties, cities, towns, villages, special tax school districts, special road and bridge districts, bridge districts, and all other districts in this state. See Florida Statutes 1.01
(b) “State-appropriated funds” means all funds appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, excluding federal funds.
(2) For any competitive solicitation for construction services paid for with any state-appropriated funds, a state college, county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of the state may not use a local ordinance or regulation to prevent a certified, licensed, or registered contractor, subcontractor, or material supplier or carrier, from participating in the bidding process based upon:

(a) Maintaining an office or place of business within a particular local jurisdiction;
(b) Hiring employees or subcontractors from within a particular local jurisdiction; or
(c) Prior payment of local taxes, assessments, or duties within a particular local jurisdiction.
(3) For any competitive solicitation that meets the criteria in subsection (2), a state college, county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of the state shall disclose in the solicitation document that any applicable local ordinance or regulation does not include any preference that is prohibited by subsection (2).
(4) Except as provided in subsection (2), this section does not prevent a state college, county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of the state from awarding a contract to a contractor in accordance with applicable state laws or local ordinances or regulations.