HB1441

House Bill 1441 amends Arkansas Code § 19-11-802(c)(1) to modify procurement requirements for political subdivisions. The bill expands existing restrictions on the use of competitive bidding to include medical, emergency medical, and ambulance services. Under current law, political subdivisions are prohibited from using competitive bidding for various professional consulting services, such as legal, architectural, and engineering services. By adding medical, emergency medical, and ambulance services to this list, the bill mandates that these services be procured through alternative methods, such as requests for qualifications or direct negotiation, rather than cost-based competitive bidding. The primary goal is to prioritize professional qualifications and performance data over price when contracting for these specialized services.