1. (1) The division shall establish and maintain a pre-qualification registry of contractors and vendors eligible to bid on public school construction projects as an original contractor, as that term is defined in Section 38-1a-102, that:

   1. (a) establishes minimum qualification standards based on experience, financial capacity, and performance history;
   2. (b) standardizes contractor evaluation criteria across all LEAs;
   3. (c) provides performance ratings based on completed projects;
   4. (d) enables volume purchasing agreements for common materials and services; and
   5. (e) facilitates cost comparison across contractors and regions.

2. (2) To be eligible to bid on public school construction exceeding $500,000, a contractor shall:

   1. (a) register with the division's contractor registry;
   2. (b) meet minimum qualifications established by division rule;
   3. (c) maintain current insurance and licensing requirements;
   4. (d) submit to performance evaluations on completed projects; and
   5. (e) participate in division-sponsored training programs.

3. (3) The contractor registry:

   1. (a) creates a pool of pre-qualified contractors from which LEAs select through competitive procurement under Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code;
   2. (b) does not replace or eliminate competitive bidding requirements;
   3. (c) does not give the division authority to select contractors for specific LEA projects; and
   4. (d) requires LEAs to use standard procurement processes when selecting from registry contractors as provided in Section 63A-5b-1203.

4. (4) The division may establish preferred contractor programs that:

   1. (a) reward consistent performance with streamlined bidding processes;
   2. (b) provide volume discounts for an LEA using registry contractors;
   3. (c) ensure geographic coverage in rural and urban areas; and
   4. (d) maintain competitive pricing through transparent cost comparisons.
5. (5) An LEA or contractor may appeal registry determinations, including denial of registration or removal from the registry, to the appeals panel established under Section 63A-5b-1221.

6. (6) The division shall develop and maintain a directory of specialized trade contractors for specific services that:

   1. (a) includes qualified contractors for specialized trades including:

      1. (i) plumbing contractors;
      2. (ii) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors;
      3. (iii) electrical contractors;
      4. (iv) roofing contractors;
      5. (v) fire protection system contractors; and
      6. (vi) other specialized trades as the division determines;
   2. (b) is organized by trade specialty and geographic region;
   3. (c) includes contractor contact information and areas of expertise;
   4. (d) is updated at least annually;
   5. (e) is accessible through the division's website for LEA use; and
   6. (f) serves as a resource for LEAs seeking contractors for maintenance, repair, or specialized construction services.

Enacted by Chapter 225, 2026 General Session