Chapter 16

16.76(1) (1) All contracts for materials, supplies, equipment or contractual services to be provided to any agency shall run to the state of Wisconsin. Such contracts shall be signed by the secretary or an individual authorized by the secretary, except that contracts entered into directly by the legislature, the courts or a legislative service or judicial branch agency shall be signed by an individual authorized under s. 16.74 (2) (b).

16.76(3) (3) 

16.76(3)(a) (a) Prices established in a continuing contract to provide materials, supplies, equipment or contractual services over a period of time may be lowered due to general market conditions, but prices shall not be subject to increase for 90 calendar days from the date of award. The contractor shall submit any proposed price increase under a continuing contract to the department at least 30 calendar days before the proposed effective date of the price increase. Any price increase shall be limited to fully documented cost increases to the contractor which the contractor demonstrates to be industrywide. The conditions under which price increases may be granted shall be expressed in bidding documents and contracts.

16.76(3)(b) (b) The department may accept, negotiate or reject any proposed price increase. Upon rejection, the contractor may exercise any termination clause which has been incorporated into the contract.

16.76(4) (4) 

16.76(4)(a) (a) In this subsection, “master lease” means an agreement entered into by the department on behalf of one or more agencies to obtain property or services under which the department makes or agrees to make periodic payments.

16.76(4)(ag) (ag) The department may pay or agree to pay under a master lease a sum substantially equivalent to or in excess of the aggregate value of property or services obtained and it may be agreed that the department or one or more agencies will become, or for no other or nominal consideration has the option to become, the owner of property obtained or to be obtained under a master lease upon full compliance with its terms.

16.76(4)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (h), the department may enter into a master lease whenever the department determines that it is advantageous to the state to do so. If the master lease provides for payments to be made by the state from moneys that have not been appropriated at the time that the master lease is entered into, the master lease shall contain the statement required under s. 16.75 (3).

16.76(4)(c) (c) Payments under a master lease may include interest payable at a fixed or variable rate as the master lease may provide. The department may enter into agreements and ancillary arrangements which the department determines to be necessary to facilitate the use of a master lease.

16.76(4)(d) (d) The department may delegate to other persons the authority and responsibility to take actions necessary and appropriate to implement agreements and ancillary arrangements under par. (c).

16.76(4)(e) (e) The department may grant a perfected security interest in property obtained or to be obtained under a master lease. The department shall record and preserve evidence of the security interest in its offices at all times during which the master lease is in effect.

16.76(4)(f) (f) The department may appoint one or more fiscal agents for each master lease. Each fiscal agent shall be an incorporated bank or trust company authorized by the laws of the United States or of the state in which it is located to do business as a banking or trust company. The department shall periodically require competitive proposals, under procedures established by the department, for fiscal agent services under this paragraph. There may be deposited with a fiscal agent, in a special account for such purpose only, a sum estimated to be sufficient to enable the fiscal agent to make all payments which will come due under the master lease not more than 15 days after the date of deposit. The department may make such other provisions respecting fiscal agents as it considers necessary or useful and may enter into a contract with any fiscal agent containing such terms, including compensation, and conditions in regard to the fiscal agent as it considers necessary or useful.

16.76(4)(g) (g) Sections 16.705 and 16.75 do not apply to agreements or ancillary agreements under par. (c) or contracts for fiscal agent services under par. (f).

16.76(4)(h) (h) A master lease may not be used to obtain a facility for use or occupancy by the state or an agency or instrumentality of the state or to obtain an internal improvement.

16.76(4)(j) (j) If a master lease is used to finance payments to be made under an energy conservation construction project as provided in s. 16.858 (2), payments under the lease may not be conditioned upon any payment required to be made by the contractor pursuant to an energy conservation audit.

16.76 History History: 1973 c. 333; 1977 c. 196 s. 130 (3); 1979 c. 34; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 119, 142; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 496; 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 9.

16.765 16.765 Nondiscriminatory contracts.

16.765(1) (1) Contracting agencies, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall include in all contracts executed by them a provision obligating the contractor not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, handicap, sex, physical condition, developmental disability as defined in s. 51.01 (5), sexual orientation as defined in s. 111.32 (13m), or national origin and, except with respect to sexual orientation, obligating the contractor to take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunities.

16.765(2) (2) Contracting agencies, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall include the following provision in every contract executed by them: “In connection with the performance of work under this contract, the contractor agrees not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, handicap, sex, physical condition, developmental disability as defined in s. 51.01 (5), sexual orientation or national origin. This provision shall include, but not be limited to, the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. Except with respect to sexual orientation, the contractor further agrees to take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunities. The contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available for employees and applicants for employment, notices to be provided by the contracting officer setting forth the provisions of the nondiscrimination clause”.

16.765(3) (3) Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply to contracts to meet special requirements or emergencies, if approved by the department.

16.765(4) (4) Contracting agencies, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall take appropriate action to revise the standard government contract forms under this section.

16.765(5) (5) The head of each contracting agency and the boards of directors of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall be primarily responsible for obtaining compliance by any contractor with the nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions prescribed by this section, according to procedures recommended by the department. The department shall make recommendations to the contracting agencies and the boards of directors of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation for improving and making more effective the nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions of contracts. The department shall promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the performance of its functions under this section.

16.765(6) (6) The department may receive complaints of alleged violations of the nondiscrimination provisions of such contracts. The department shall investigate and determine whether a violation of this section has occurred. The department may delegate this authority to the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation for processing in accordance with the department’s procedures.

16.765(7) (7) When a violation of this section has been determined by the department, the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation, the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall:

16.765(7)(a) (a) Immediately inform the violating party of the violation.

16.765(7)(b) (b) Direct the violating party to take action necessary to halt the violation.

16.765(7)(c) (c) Direct the violating party to take action necessary to correct, if possible, any injustice to any person adversely affected by the violation.

16.765(7)(d) (d) Direct the violating party to take immediate steps to prevent further violations of this section and to report its corrective action to the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation.

16.765(8) (8) If further violations of this section are committed during the term of the contract, the contracting agency, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation may permit the violating party to complete the contract, after complying with this section, but thereafter the contracting agency, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall request the department to place the name of the party on the ineligible list for state contracts, or the contracting agency, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation may terminate the contract without liability for the uncompleted portion or any materials or services purchased or paid for by the contracting party for use in completing the contract.

16.765(9) (9) The names of parties who have had contracts terminated under this section shall be placed on an ineligible list for state contracts, maintained by the department. No state contract may be approved and let to any party on such list of ineligible contractors. The department may remove the name of any party from the ineligible list of contractors if the department determines that the contractor’s employment practices comply with this section and provide adequate safeguards for its observance.

16.765(10) (10) The department shall refer any individual complaints of discrimination which are subject to investigation under subch. II of ch. 111 to the department of workforce development.

16.765(11) (11) A violation by a prime contractor shall not impute to a subcontractor nor shall a violation by a subcontractor impute to a contractor.

16.765 History History: 1975 c. 94, 189, 275, 422; 1977 c. 29, 418; 1981 c. 112; 1981 c. 334 s. 25 (2); 1981 c. 391 s. 210; 1985 a. 26; 1985 a. 29 s. 3200 (1); 1995 a. 27 ss. 386 to 389, 9130 (4); 1995 a. 225; 1997 a. 3; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 74, 335; 2007 a. 20, 97; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 7, 10; 2013 a. 20; 2013 a. 173 s. 33.

16.765 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 50, Wis. adm. code.

16.765 Annotation Cities, counties, and other local governmental entities are not “contracting agencies” under sub. (1). 68 Atty. Gen. 306.

16.767 16.767 Setoffs. All amounts owed by this state under this subchapter are subject to being set off under s. 73.12.

16.767 History History: 1985 a. 29.

16.77 16.77 Audit of bills; illegal contracts; actions to recover.

16.77(1) (1) No bill or statement for work or labor performed under purchase orders or contracts issued by the secretary or the secretary’s designated agents, and no bill or statement for supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services purchased for and delivered to any agency may be paid until the bill or statement is approved through a preaudit or postaudit process determined by the secretary. This subsection does not apply to purchases made directly by the courts, the legislature or a legislative service or judicial branch agency under s. 16.74.

16.77(2) (2) Whenever any officer or any subordinate of an officer contracts for the purchase of supplies, material, equipment or contractual services contrary to ss. 16.705 to 16.82 or the rules promulgated pursuant thereto, the contract is void, and any such officer or subordinate is liable for the cost thereof, and if such supply, material, equipment or contractual services so unlawfully purchased have been paid for out of public moneys, the amount thereof may be recovered in the name of the state in an action filed by the attorney general against the officer or subordinate and his or her bonders. Such cause of action is deemed to have arisen in Dane County, and summons shall be served therein as in civil actions.

16.77 History History: 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 20 s. 2202 (1) (c); 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (5); 1987 a. 119; 1991 a. 39.

16.78 16.78 Purchases from department relating to information technology or telecommunications.

16.78(1) (1) Every agency other than the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or an agency making purchases under s. 16.74 shall make all purchases of materials, supplies, equipment, and contractual services relating to information technology or telecommunications from the department, unless the department requires the agency to purchase the materials, supplies, equipment, or contractual services pursuant to a master contract established under s. 16.972 (2) (h), or grants written authorization to the agency to procure the materials, supplies, equipment, or contractual services under s. 16.75 (1) or (2m), to purchase the materials, supplies, equipment, or contractual services from another agency or to provide the materials, supplies, equipment, or contractual services to itself. The board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the University of Wisconsin-Madison may make purchases of materials, supplies, equipment, and contractual services relating to information technology or telecommunications from the department.

16.78(2) (2) Sections 16.705 to 16.767 and 16.77 (1) do not apply to the purchase of materials, supplies, equipment, or contractual services by any agency from the department under sub. (1).

16.78 History History: 1991 a. 39; 2001 a. 16, 104; 2003 a. 33; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20 ss. 2365m, 9448.

16.79 16.79 Duties of department of administration.

16.79(1) (1) The department shall distribute so many copies of the Wisconsin reports as may be required by the state law librarian to make the exchanges provided for by law with other states and territories.

16.79(2) (2) The department shall distribute in pamphlet form copies of the constitution and such laws as may be required to meet the public demand, including the election laws. The department shall distribute election manuals, forms, and supplies specified by the elections commission. The laws, manuals, forms, and supplies shall be sold by the department at cost, including distribution cost as determined under s. 35.80. The elections commission shall inform the department in writing as to which election manuals, forms, and supplies shall be offered for distribution under this subsection.

16.79 History History: 1971 c. 82; 1973 c. 334 s. 57; 1979 c. 34; 1983 a. 484; 1985 a. 29; 1989 a. 192; 2007 a. 1; 2015 a. 118.

16.82 16.82 Powers of department of administration. In addition to other powers vested in the department of administration, it and its duly authorized representatives:

16.82(1) (1) Shall have access at all reasonable times to all state offices.

16.82(2) (2) May examine all books, records, papers and documents in any such office or institution as pertain directly or indirectly to the purchase of, control of, or distribution of supplies, materials and equipment.

16.82(3) (3) May require any officer to furnish any and all reasonable data, information or statement relating to the work of the officer’s department.

16.82(4) (4) 

16.82(4)(a) (a) May produce or contract to have produced, printing of classes 1, 3 and 4, and excerpts from the statutes under class 2, and all materials offered by state agencies for production.

16.82(4)(b) (b) May determine the form, style, quantity and method of reproduction, when not specifically prescribed by law, of all materials offered by state agencies for production. Any state agency which objects to the determination made under this paragraph may appeal the decision of the department to the governor.

16.82(4)(c) (c) Agencies performing work under this section shall make reports as are required to the department which shall compile and prepare such summary reports as the joint committee on finance requests.

16.82(4)(d) (d) May, during a period when a contract for any class or subclass of public printing has expired and a new contract for the following biennium has not been entered into under ch. 35, obtain public printing from private printers at prevailing commercial rates, or may produce public printing.

16.82(4)(e) (e) In deciding whether to use the discretion under pars. (a) and (d) to produce graphic material, the department shall take into consideration the urgency of the work and the relative cost of production by the department as against the cost of outside work.

16.82(4)(f) (f) The cost of work done under pars. (a) to (e) shall be charged to the agency ordering the work.

16.82(4)(g) (g) This subsection and s. 35.015 shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the legislature’s intent to vest broad discretion in the department to determine what public printing in the classes covered and what materials offered by state agencies for production shall be done by the state itself, and what shall be contracted. Such liberal construction shall extend to the department’s determination to use the power conferred, to the determination of what work is to be included in the classes covered, and to the determination of whether a given process is similar to those enumerated.

16.82(4)(h) (h) To further legislative intent, the department shall impose all practical restraint on the capability for production by the state of the classes enumerated consistent with s. 16.001.

16.82(5) (5) Shall develop and implement a comprehensive group transportation program for state employees, in cooperation with all agencies, as defined in s. 16.52 (7), and shall promote and encourage participation in the group transportation program. The program may include car pooling and van pooling service. In addition, the department shall promote and encourage alternate means of transportation for state, municipal and federal employees and persons in the private sector including but not limited to mass transit and bicycle commuting. The department may provide contract group transportation of state employees from designated pickup points to work sites and return in the absence of convenient and public scheduled transportation. Any driver of a van that is utilized by the department for a van pool shall have completed a driver safety training course approved by the department. Nonstate employees may be permitted to participate in van pools when necessary in order to provide viable van pool service for state employees. Group transportation shall be provided for a fee which recovers the full cost of administration, maintenance, operation, insurance and depreciation of the group transportation program, plus interest for general purpose revenues utilized for the program, except as provided in s. 16.843 (2) (bm). The department shall calculate interest recoverable under this subsection by applying the average earnings rate of the state investment fund for each quarter to the average general purpose revenues utilized under s. 20.903 (2) (b) from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (im) for group transportation purposes in the same quarter. No less often than annually, the department shall assess the interest payable under this subsection as of the most recently completed quarter and shall deposit the amounts collected into the general fund. No person is deemed to be in the course of employment while utilizing group transportation.

16.82(6) (6) May provide any services to a local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229, for compensation to be agreed upon between the department and the district, if the district has entered into a lease agreement with the department under sub. (7), except that the department shall not act as a general contractor for any construction work undertaken by the district. No order or contract to provide any such services is subject to s. 16.705, 16.75 (1) to (5) and (8) to (10), 16.752, 16.754 or 16.765.

16.82(7) (7) May enter into a lease agreement with a local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229 for the lease of land or other property granted to the state and especially dedicated by the grant to use for a professional baseball park. The lease agreement may be for such rental payments and for such term as the secretary determines.

16.82 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1975 c. 39 s. 732 (1); 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 34, 221; 1981 c. 350; 1983 a. 333; 1985 a. 29; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 316; 1995 a. 47, 56; 1999 a. 83.

16.83 16.83 State capitol and executive residence board.

16.83(1) (1) Purpose. The purpose of the state capitol and executive residence board is to direct the continuing and consistent maintenance of the property, decorative furniture and furnishings of the capitol and executive residence.

16.83(2) (2) Powers and duties. No renovation, repairs except repairs of an emergency nature, installation of fixtures, decorative items or furnishings for the grounds and buildings of the capitol or executive residence may be performed by or become the property of the state by purchase wholly or in part from state funds, or by gift, loan or otherwise until approved by the board as to design, structure, composition and appropriateness. The board shall:

16.83(2)(a) (a) Annually thoroughly investigate the state of repair of the capitol and executive residence.

16.83(2)(b) (b) Project the necessary personnel, materials and supplies required annually to maintain the executive residence appropriately both for its public functions and as the residence of the governor, and make specific budget recommendations to the department of administration to accomplish this purpose.

16.83(2)(c) (c) Ensure the architectural and decorative integrity of the buildings, fixtures, decorative items, furnishings and grounds of the capitol and executive residence by setting standards and criteria for subsequent repair, replacement and additions.

16.83(2)(cm) (cm) Accept for the state donations or loans of works of art or other decorative items and fixtures consistent with par. (c) to be used at the state capitol.

16.83(2)(d) (d) Accept for the state donations or loans of furnishings, works of art or other decorative items and fixtures consistent with par. (c).

16.83(2)(e) (e) Accept for the state all gifts, grants and bequests to the state capitol restoration fund, and authorize expenditures from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (r) for the purposes of maintenance, restoration, preservation and rehabilitation of the buildings and grounds of the state capitol, or of artifacts, documents and other historical objects or resources located within and around the state capitol, and for the purpose of the acquisition of replacement or reacquisition of original artifacts, documents and other historical objects or resources, including statuary and works of art, consistent with par. (c), for the state capitol.

16.83(3) (3) Swimming pool prohibited. The board may not approve the construction or maintenance of a swimming pool on the grounds of or in the executive residence.

16.83(4) (4) Foundation. The board may organize or cooperate in the organization of a private foundation to be operated for the purposes specified in sub. (2) (e).

16.83 History History: 1979 c. 34, 221; 1993 a. 477, 491.

16.835 16.835 Offices and rooms in capitol. The office of the governor shall be located in the capitol. The attorney general, lieutenant governor and supreme court shall each keep a room in the capitol. The circular room on the 2nd floor of the capitol located between the assembly and senate chambers shall be made available for the use of the capitol press corps.

16.835 History History: 1977 c. 3, 447; 1983 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1997 a. 237.

16.838 16.838 Historically significant furnishings.

16.838(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

16.838(1)(a) (a) “Agency” has the meaning given in s. 16.045 (1) (a).

16.838(1)(b) (b) “Authority” means a body created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, or 237.

16.838(1)(c) (c) “Historically significant furnishings” means furniture, fixtures, decorative objects or other items that are or were associated with the current or any prior state capitol and that possess historical significance.

16.838(2) (2) Title. Title to historically significant furnishings in the possession of any agency or authority, including the senate and assembly, is vested in the department.

16.838(3) (3) Acquisition. The department may acquire any historically significant furnishing by purchase or gift. The department shall pay for any such furnishing from the appropriation under s. 20.855 (3) (c).

16.838(4) (4) Transfer of possession. The department shall take possession of historically significant furnishings to which the department has title whenever the department is directed to do so by the joint committee on legislative organization. If a ceding agency or authority requires a replacement for a furnishing that is transferred to the department’s possession, the department shall pay for a suitable replacement from the appropriation under s. 20.855 (3) (c).

16.838(5) (5) Restoration. The department shall restore any historically significant furnishing in its possession prior to relocation of the furnishing to the capitol if the joint committee on legislative organization so directs. The department shall pay the cost of such restoration from the appropriation under s. 20.855 (3) (c).