SECTION 1. Chapter 30B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking section 5, subsection (g), and inserting in place therein, the following new subsection:-

(g) The procurement officer shall award the contract to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder; provided, however, that a bidder whose principal place of business is located within Massachusetts shall be considered the lowest bidder if its bid is within five percent of the lowest responsible and responsive of a bidder whose principal place of business or a place of business/location is not within the Commonwealth. A contract requiring payment to the governmental body of a net monetary amount shall be awarded to the highest responsible and responsive bidder; provided further, provided, however, that a bidder whose principal place of business or a place of business/location is located within Massachusetts shall be considered the highest bidder if its bid is within five percent of the highest responsible and responsive of a bidder whose principal place of business, is not located or does not employ Massachusetts residents is not within the Commonwealth. The procurement officer shall award the contract by written notice to the selected bidder within the time for acceptance specified in the invitation for bids. The time for acceptance may be extended for up to 45 days by mutual agreement between the governmental body and the apparent lowest responsible and responsive bidder or, for a contract requiring payment to the governmental body, by mutual agreement between the governmental body and the highest apparent responsible and responsive bidder.

SECTION 2.  Chapter 30B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking section 6, subsection (g), and inserting in place therein, the following new section:-

(g) The chief procurement officer shall determine the most advantageous proposal from a responsible and responsive offeror taking into consideration price and the evaluation criteria set forth in the request for proposals; provided that a bidder whose principal place of business (or presence) is located within Massachusetts shall be considered to have submitted the most advantageous proposal if its bid is within five percent of the price submitted by a responsible and responsive offerer whose principal place of business or a place of business/location is not within the Commonwealth. A contract requiring payment to the governmental body of a net monetary amount shall be awarded to the highest responsible and responsive bidder; provided further, provided, however, that a bidder whose principal place of business or a place of business/location is located within Massachusetts shall be considered the highest bidder if its bid is within five percent of the highest responsible and responsive of a bidder whose principal place of business is not located or does not employ Massachusetts residents is not within the Commonwealth. The chief procurement officer shall award the contract by written notice to the selected offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the request for proposals. The parties may extend the time for acceptance by mutual agreement. The chief procurement officer may condition an award on successful negotiation of the revisions specified in the evaluation, and shall explain in writing the reasons for omitting any such revision from a plan incorporated by reference in the contract.