How companies that sell goods and services to New York State can comply with new contract-disclosure requirements will be the subject of a series of Business Council seminars scheduled for Albany and Long Island in April.
The half-day seminars, which will be led by senior staff from the state Office of General Services (OGS), are scheduled for the afternoon of April 20 and the morning of April 22 in Albany and Bethpage, respectively.
Governor Pataki created the new regulation with an executive order in the summer of 2003. Under the order, any party involved in state contracts worth $15,000 or more is subject to new, more specific disclosure requirements.
In addition, under the new regulation, any individual from a company who contacts any state employee about such a contract may be considered attempting to influence the procurement process.
Specific topics to be covered in the seminars include: an overview of the state's new disclosure requirements; a review of the entities to which the law applies and the types of procurement that are covered; a discussion of exempt contracts; a review of when disclosure requirements are triggered; how the requirements are likely to affect contractors; and the effect of the requirements on real-estate transactions.
The intended audience for the seminar includes: individuals who lobby state agencies to buy goods or services; companies' contracting employees who communicate with state agencies about contracts; employees in real estate and sales and service; and any other employee whose communications with state employees may seem to be trying to influence the state procurement process.
The seminars will be co-sponsored by regional chambers and other business associations. The seminars cost $125 for members of The Business Council or local sponsoring associations, $175 for others.