1. (a) This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.

2. (b) The underlying purposes and policies of this chapter are to:

   1. (1) Simplify, clarify, and modernize the law governing purchasing by the state of Rhode Island and its local public agencies;
   2. (2) Permit the continued development of purchasing policies and practices;
   3. (3) Make as consistent as possible the purchasing laws among the various states;
   4. (4) Provide for increased public confidence in the procedures followed in public procurement;
   5. (5) Ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all persons who deal with the procurement system of the state;
   6. (6) Provide increased economy in state and public agency procurement activities by fostering effective competition;
   7. (7) Provide safeguards for the maintenance of a procurement system of quality, integrity and highest ethical standards; and
   8. (8) Ensure that a public agency, acting through its existing internal purchasing function, adheres to the general principles, policies and practices enumerated herein.

History of Section.
P.L. 1989, ch. 526, § 2.