§1672. Authority to debar or suspend

            A. Applicability. This Section applies to a debarment for cause from consideration for award of contracts or a suspension from such consideration during an investigation where there is probable cause for such a debarment.

            B. Authority. After reasonable notice to the person involved and reasonable opportunity for that person to be heard, the chief procurement officer shall have authority to suspend or debar a person for cause from consideration for award of contracts, provided that doing so is in the best interests of the state. The causes for debarment are set forth in Subsection C of this Section. The chief procurement officer may suspend a person from consideration for award of contracts if he determines that there is probable cause to believe that such person has engaged in any activity which might lead to debarment. The suspension shall not be for a period exceeding six months. The authority to debar or suspend shall be exercised in accordance with regulations.

            C. Causes for debarment. The causes for debarment include the following:

            (1) Conviction for commission of a criminal offense as an incident to obtaining or attempting to obtain a public or private contract or subcontract, or in the performance of such contract or subcontract.

            (2) Conviction under state or federal statutes of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property, or any other offense indicating a lack of business integrity or business honesty which currently, seriously, and directly affects responsibility as a contractor.

            (3) Conviction under state or federal antitrust statutes arising out of the submission of bids or proposals.

            (4) Violation of contract provisions, as set forth below, of a character which is regarded by the chief procurement officer to be so serious as to justify debarment action:

            (a) Deliberate failure without good cause to perform in accordance with the specifications or within the time limit provided in the contract.

            (b) A recent record of failure to perform or of unsatisfactory performance in accordance with the terms of one or more contracts; provided that failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance caused by acts beyond the control of the contractor shall not be considered to be a basis for debarment.

            (5) Any other cause the chief procurement officer determines to be so serious and compelling as to affect responsibility as a state contractor, including debarment by another governmental entity for any cause listed in regulations.

            (6) Violation of the ethical standards set forth in Chapter 15 of Title 42.

            (7) Violation of the procurement of telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services by agencies and certain educational entities set forth in R.S. 39:1753.1.

            D. Decision. The chief procurement officer shall issue a written decision to debar or suspend. The decision shall:

            (1) State the reasons for the action taken.

            (2) Inform the debarred or suspended person involved of its rights to administrative and judicial review as provided in this Chapter.

            E. Notice of decision. A copy of the decision under Subsection D of this Section shall be mailed or otherwise furnished immediately to the debarred or suspended person and any other party intervening.

            F. Finality of decision. A decision under Subsection D of this Section shall be final and conclusive unless one of the following applies:

            (1) The decision is fraudulent.

            (2) The debarred or suspended person has timely appealed administratively to the commissioner in accordance with R.S. 39:1684.

            Added by Acts 1979, No. 715, §1, eff. July 1, 1980; Acts 2014, No. 864, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2015; Acts 2022, No. 695, §2.