1. (a)

   1. (1) Lease. All state agencies may lease commodities with the exclusion of vehicles (see Arkansas Code § 22-8-102) where the cost does not exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) during the initial period of the contract without seeking competitive bids, provided the lease does not contain an option to purchase.
   2. (2) Such leases may not be renewed beyond accumulated expenditures of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).
2. (b) Purchase of commodities subject to Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 54. Purchase of commodities subject to Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 54 must be procured in accordance with competitive bidding and competitive sealed bidding procedures (see Arkansas Code § 19-11-222(b) for definitions of printing, stationery, and supplies).

3. (c) Certified minority business enterprise or certified women-owned business enterprise.

   1. (1) A procurement that does not exceed two (2) times the amount stated in Arkansas Code § 19-11-204(13) may be procured without seeking competitive bids or competitive sealed bids if the procurement is with a:

      1. (A) Certified minority business enterprise; or
      2. (B) Certified women-owned business enterprise.
   2. (2) The certification process is administered by the Division of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Codification Notes: This section was promulgated as R1:19-11-231 of the Procurement Rules prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules.