Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 153 | Public Improvements
Section 153.02 | Debarment of Contractor From Contract Awards.

Effective: October 17, 2019
Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly
(A) The executive director of the Ohio facilities construction commission, may debar a contractor from contract awards for public improvements as referred to in section 153.01 of the Revised Code or for projects as defined in section 3318.01 of the Revised Code, upon proof that the contractor has done any of the following:
(1) Defaulted on a contract requiring the execution of a takeover agreement as set forth in division (B) of section 153.17 of the Revised Code;
(2) Knowingly failed during the course of a contract to maintain the coverage required by the bureau of workers' compensation;
(3) Knowingly failed during the course of a contract to maintain the contractor's drug-free workplace program as required by the contract;
(4) Knowingly failed during the course of a contract to maintain insurance required by the contract or otherwise by law, resulting in a substantial loss to the owner, as owner is referred to in section 153.01 of the Revised Code, or to the commission and school district board, as provided in division (F) of section 3318.08 of the Revised Code;
(5) Misrepresented the firm's qualifications in the selection process set forth in sections 153.65 to 153.71 or section 3318.10 of the Revised Code;
(6) Been convicted of a criminal offense related to the application for or performance of any public or private contract, including, but not limited to, embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property, and any other offense that directly reflects on the contractor's business integrity;
(7) Been convicted of a criminal offense under state or federal antitrust laws;
(8) Deliberately or willfully submitted false or misleading information in connection with the application for or performance of a public contract;
(9) Been debarred from bidding on or participating in a contract with any state or federal agency.
(B) When the executive director debars a contractor that is a partnership, association, or corporation, the executive director also may debar any partner of the partnership or any officer or director of the association or corporation, as applicable.
(C) When the executive director reasonably believes that grounds for debarment exist, the executive director shall send the contractor a notice of proposed debarment indicating the grounds for the proposed debarment and the procedure for requesting a hearing on the proposed debarment. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. If the contractor does not respond with a request for a hearing in the manner specified in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the executive director shall issue the debarment decision without a hearing and shall notify the contractor of the decision by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(D) The executive director shall determine the length of the debarment period and may rescind the debarment at any time upon notification to the contractor. During the period of debarment, the contractor is not eligible to bid for or participate in any contract for a public improvement as referred to in section 153.01 of the Revised Code or for a project as defined in section 3318.01 of the Revised Code. After the debarment period expires, the contractor may be eligible to bid for and participate in such contracts if the vendor is not otherwise debarred.
(E) The executive director shall maintain a list of all contractors currently debarred under this section. Any governmental entity awarding a contract for construction of a public improvement or project may use a contractor's presence on the debarment list to determine whether a contractor is responsible or best under section 9.312 or any other section of the Revised Code in the award of a contract.
(F) As used in this section, "contractor" means a construction contracting business, a subcontractor of a construction contracting business, a supplier of materials, or a manufacturer of materials.

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