§ 3. Powers and duties of commissioner of general services and state
agencies in purchasing printing. 1. The commissioner of general services
shall have general supervision over the letting of all contracts for
public printing provided to be made herein. In addition, the
commissioner shall exercise such further supervision and control over
all contracts for department printing pursuant to section one hundred
sixty-three of the state finance law. The commissioner may, as deemed
appropriate establish standard sizes and grades of paper and other
necessary specifications for paper; provided, however, that such
specifications shall be in accordance with those established pursuant to
section one hundred sixty-three and subdivision three of section one
hundred sixty-five of the state finance law.

(a) The commissioner of general services shall be responsible for the
standardization and centralized contracting of printing required by
state agencies in a manner which maximizes the purchasing value of
public funds. Pursuant to section one hundred sixty-three of the state
finance law, contracts for printing may be established by the office of
general services or state agencies, and state agencies may, when such
centralized contracts established by the office of general services are
in the form, function and utility required by said agency, purchase from
such centralized contracts. When printing is not available consistent
with the provisions of section one hundred sixty-three of the state
finance law in the form, function and utility required by state
agencies, state agencies may procure printing independently or in
conjunction with other state agencies.

(b) Printing contracts shall be awarded on the basis of lowest price
to a responsive and responsible offerer; or in the case of multiple
awards, in accordance with paragraph c of subdivision ten of section one
hundred sixty-three of the state finance law.

2. No contract for department printing shall be let to a bidder who,
in the opinion of the commissioner, does not have satisfactory
facilities and equipment which are ample and sufficient to insure proper
performance of the contract or who has failed to give adequate security
in an amount which may be required by the commissioner. Provided
further, however, that no contract shall be let to a bidder other than
the lowest price responsible bidder without the written approval of the
comptroller.

3. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this section, or
of any general or special act, the commissioner may contract for
printing to an amount not exceeding eighty-five thousand dollars without
competitive bidding, and other state departments and agencies may
contract to an amount not exceeding fifty thousand dollars without
competitive bidding, for printing required by them.