18-4-241. Authority to remove or suspend vendor. - Montana Statutes

     18-4-241. Authority to remove or suspend vendor. (1) The department may remove a vendor for cause from consideration for award of contracts by the state.
     (2) The department may temporarily suspend a vendor from consideration for award of contracts if there is probable cause to believe that the vendor has engaged in activities that may lead to removal. If an indictment has been issued for an offense that would be a cause for removal under subsection (3), the suspension must, at the request of the attorney general, remain in effect at a minimum until after the trial of the suspended vendor. The authority to remove or suspend must be exercised in accordance with rules adopted by the department.
     (3) The causes for removal or suspension include the following:
     (a) violation of contract provisions, as set forth in subsections (3)(a)(i) and (3)(a)(ii), of a character that is regarded by the department to be so serious as to justify removal action:
     (i) deliberate failure without good cause to perform in accordance with the specifications or within the time limit provided in the contract; or
     (ii) a recent record of failure to perform or of unsatisfactory performance in accordance with the terms of one or more contracts, provided that failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance caused by acts beyond the control of the contractor may not be considered to be a basis for removal;
     (b) failure to respond to a number of solicitations over a period of time as determined by the department in accordance with rules or failure to provide the department with a correct address;
     (c) any other cause that the department determines to be so serious and compelling as to affect responsibility as a state contractor, including removal by another governmental entity; and
     (d) failure to comply with the provisions of Title 39, chapter 51, or Title 39, chapter 71.
     (4) The department shall issue a written decision to remove or suspend a vendor, stating the reasons for the action taken, for reasons other than those reasons provided in subsection (3)(b). A copy of the decision must be mailed or otherwise furnished immediately to the vendor involved.

     History: En. Sec. 9, Ch. 519, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 234, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 443, L. 1997.