AN ACT to modify the purchasing and contracting authority by the department of environment and natural resources on behalf of the north carolina zoological park; to expand the umstead exemption for the park; to improve the administration of park operations; to require a reporting of the progress and implementation of the mandates of this act; to establish the North Carolina Zoological Park Funding and Organization Study Committee; and to annex certain property owned by the nc zoological society into the city of asheboro.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Part I:  Purchasing and Contracting authority on behalf of the North Carolina Zoological Park
SECTION 1.1.  Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 143‑129.8A.  Purchase of certain goods and services for the North Carolina Zoological Park.
(a)	Exemption. – The North Carolina Zoological Park is a State entity whose primary purpose is the attraction of, interaction with, and education of the public regarding issues of global conservation, ecological preservation, and scientific exploration, and that purpose presents unique challenges requiring greater flexibility and faster responsiveness in meeting the needs of and creating the attractions for the Park. Accordingly, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources may use the procedure set forth in this section, in addition to or instead of any other procedure available under North Carolina law, to contract with a non‑State entity on behalf of the Park for the acquisition of goods and services where: (i) the contract directly results in the generation of revenue for the State of North Carolina or (ii) the use of the acquired goods and services by the Park results in increased revenue or decreased expenditures for the State of North Carolina.
(b)	Limitation. – Contracts executed pursuant to the exemption of subsection (a) of this section may be entered into under a request for proposals procedure that satisfies the following minimum requirements:
(1)	Notice of the request for proposals shall be given in accordance with G.S. 143‑129(b).
(2)	Contracts shall be awarded to the person or entity that submits the best overall proposal as determined by the awarding authority. Factors to be considered in awarding contracts shall be identified in the request for proposals.
(c)	Procurement Methods. – The Department may use procurement methods set forth in G.S. 143‑135.9 in developing and evaluating requests for proposals under this section. The Department may negotiate with any proposer in order to obtain a final contract that best meets the needs of the awarding authority. Negotiations allowed under this section shall not alter the contract beyond the scope of the original request for proposals in a manner that: (i) deprives the proposers or potential proposers of a fair opportunity to compete for the contract; and (ii) would have resulted in the award of the contract to a different person or entity if the alterations had been included in the request for proposals.
(d)	Promotional Rights. – Subject to the approval of the Department, a non‑State entity awarded a contract that results in increased revenue or decreased expenditures for the Park may advertise, announce, or otherwise publicize the provision of services pursuant to award of the contract."
SECTION 1.2.  G.S. 143‑135.9 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143‑135.9.  Best Value procurements.
(a)	Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section:
(1)	Best Value procurement. – The selection of a contractor based on a determination of which proposal offers the best trade‑off between price and performance, where quality is considered an integral performance factor. The award decision is made based on multiple factors, including: total cost of ownership, meaning the cost of acquiring, operating, maintaining, and supporting a product or service over its projected lifetime; the evaluated technical merit of the vendor's proposal; the vendor's past performance; and the evaluated probability of performing the requirements stated in the solicitation on time, with high quality, and in a manner that accomplishes the stated business objectives and maintains industry standards compliance.
(2)	Government‑Vendor partnership. – A mutually beneficial contractual relationship between State government and a contractor, wherein the two share risk and reward, and value is added to the procurement of needed goods or services.
(3)	Information technology. – Electronic data processing and telecommunications goods and services, microelectronics, software, information processing, office systems, any services related to the foregoing, and consulting or other services for design and/or redesign of business processes.
(4)	Solution‑Based solicitation. – A solicitation in which the requirements are stated in terms of how the product or service being purchased should accomplish the business objectives, rather than in terms of the technical design of the product or service.
(b)	Intent. – The intent of Best Value procurement is to enable contractors to offer and the agency to select the most appropriate solution to meet the business objectives defined in the solicitation and to keep all parties focused on the desired outcome of a procurement.(c)	Information Technology. – The acquisition of information technology by the State of North Carolina shall be conducted using the Best Value procurement method. For purposes of this section, business process reengineering, system design, and technology implementation may be combined into a single solicitation. For acquisitions which the procuring agency and the Division of Purchase and Contracts or the Office of Information Technology Services, as applicable, deem to be highly complex or determine that the optimal solution to the business problem at hand is not known, the use of Solution‑Based Solicitation and Government‑Vendor Partnership is authorized and encouraged. Any county, city, town, or subdivision of the State may acquire information technology pursuant to this section.
	
(e)	North Carolina Zoological Park. – The acquisition of goods and services under a contract entered pursuant to the exemption of G.S. 143‑129.8A(a) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on behalf of the North Carolina Zoological Park may be conducted using the Best Value procurement method. For acquisitions which the procuring agency deems to be highly complex, the use of Government‑Vendor partnership is authorized."
part ii:  expansion of umstead act exemption for the north carolina zoological park
SECTION 2.1.  G.S. 66‑58(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(b)	The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to:
…
(26)	The North Carolina Zoological Park."
SECTION 2.2.  G.S. 66‑58(c)(18) is repealed.
part iII:  Administrative improvements to the north carolina zoological park operations
SECTION 3.1.  The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall work with the North Carolina Zoological Park to do the following:
(1)	Examine all purchasing and contracting policies and procedures. The Department shall identify opportunities for delegating purchasing and contracting responsibilities to the Park where appropriate. For purchases and contracts involving promotion and advertising, the Department shall consider increasing the amount over which the Park must solicit competitive bids or quotes to five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(2)	Continue negotiations with the Office of Information Technology Services regarding the implementation of Article 3D of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes.
(3)	Identify and address any other administrative concerns of the Park.
SECTION 3.2.  The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall review the current Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and the North Carolina Zoological Society.  The Secretary shall work with the Society to make appropriate revisions to or replace the Memorandum, as needed.
Part Iv:  report
SECTION 4.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall report to the North Carolina Zoological Park Funding and Organization Study Committee and to the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Office on the progress and implementation of Parts I and III of this act no later than January 15, 2010.
Part v:  Establishment of committee
SECTION 5.1.  Committee Established. – The North Carolina Zoological Park Funding and Organization Study Committee is hereby established.
SECTION 5.2.  Membership. – The Committee shall consist of 22 members as follows:
(1)	Five members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(2)	Five members of the House appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(3)	The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, or the Secretary's designee. 
(4)	The Director of the Zoological Park, or the Director's designee.
(5)	The Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary's designee.
(6)	The Executive Director of the Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development of the Department of Commerce, or the Executive Director's designee.
(7)	The Chair of the North Carolina Zoological Park Council, or the Chair's designee.
(8)	The Chair of the board of directors of the North Carolina Zoological Society, Inc., or the Chair's designee.
(9)	Two additional representatives of the Zoo Society Board, who may be comprised of current or former members, one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate upon recommendation of the Chair of the Zoo Society Board, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives upon recommendation of the Chair of the Zoo Society Board.
(10)	Two representatives from the public at large appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(11)	Two representatives from the public at large appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
SECTION 5.3.  Cochairs. – The Committee shall have three cochairs, one designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and two designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from among their respective appointees. The Committee shall meet upon the call of the cochairs.
SECTION 5.4.  Quorum. – A quorum of the Committee shall consist of 10 members.
SECTION 5.5.  Vacancies. – Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by the original appointing authority.
SECTION 5.6.  Purpose and Duties. – The Committee shall study: (i) funding issues associated with the Zoological Park, including current and expected capital and operational needs, current sources of revenue, and potential funding mechanisms; and (ii) the current organizational structure of the Zoological Park, and other potential organizational structures, including, but not limited to, reorganization as an authority, as a private nonprofit corporation, or other entity to determine which organizational structure would most effectively achieve the mission of the Zoological Park.
SECTION 5.7.  Expenses of Members. – Members of the Committee shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 5.8.  Staff. – Upon the prior approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to the Committee to aid in its work.
SECTION 5.9.  Consultants. – The Committee may hire consultants to assist with the study as provided in G.S. 120‑32.02(b).
SECTION 5.10.  Meetings. – The Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building upon the approval of the Legislative Services Commission.
SECTION 5.11.  Report. – The Committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the 2010 Regular Session of the 2009 General Assembly and the Environmental Review Commission on or before May 1, 2010, at which time the Committee shall terminate.
SECTION 5.12.  Funding. – From funds appropriated to the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Commission shall allocate funds for the purpose of conducting the study provided for in this act.
part vi: Annexation
SECTION 6.  The following described property, owned by The North Carolina Zoological Society, Inc., which shall be considered satellite corporate limits, is added to the corporate limits of the City of Asheboro:
Tract 1:
Grant Township, Randolph County, North Carolina:
BEGINNING at a computed point located at the intersection of the southern margin of the 60‑foot right‑of‑way for Old Cox Road (North Carolina Secondary Road 2834) with the western margin of the 60‑foot right‑of‑way for Lions Rest Road (North Carolina Secondary Road 2837); thence from the said beginning point along the western margin of the right‑of‑way for Lions Rest Road the following courses and distances: South 47 degrees 23 minutes 52 seconds West 71.83 feet to a computed point; thence South 38 degrees 02 minutes 09 seconds West 250.53 feet to a computed point; thence the following course and distance along the Michael L. Spoon and Joy W. Spoon property described in the Randolph County Public Registry in Deed Book 1578 at Page 223 and further described as Tract # 4 on a plat recorded in Plat Book 55, Page 59, Randolph County Public Registry: North 02 degrees 19 minutes 39 seconds East 582.77 feet to a computed point on the southern margin of the right‑of‑way for Old Cox Road; thence along the southern margin of the right‑of‑way for Old Cox Road the following courses and distances: South 26 degrees 15 minutes 50 seconds East 196.77 feet to a computed point; thence South 29 degrees 59 minutes 18 seconds East 142.30 feet to a computed point; thence South 34 degrees 42 minutes 28 seconds East 44.57 feet to the point and place of the BEGINNING, and containing 1.24 acres of land, more or less.
This description is in accordance with a map entitled "Satellite Annexation Map For City of Asheboro(,) Property of THE NORTH CAROLINA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC." that was prepared by the City of Asheboro Engineering Department. This annexation map, which is identified by the engineering department as Job # 09006, is dated February 11, 2009. The property lines drawn on this annexation map were taken from Randolph County Tax Maps as of February 11, 2009.
Tract 2:
Grant Township, Randolph County, North Carolina:
BEGINNING at a computed point located at the intersection of the southern margin of the 60‑foot right‑of‑way for Old Cox Road (North Carolina Secondary Road 2834) with the eastern margin of the 60‑foot right‑of‑way for Lions Rest Road (North Carolina Secondary Road 2837); thence from the said beginning point along the southern margin of the right‑of‑way for Old Cox Road the following courses and distances: South 40 degrees 51 minutes 39 seconds East 80.82 feet to a computed point; thence South 45 degrees 17 minutes 21 seconds East 122.60 feet to a computed point; thence South 50 degrees 58 minutes 50 seconds East 460.64 feet to a computed point; thence South 47 degrees 25 minutes 21 seconds East 138.01 feet to a computed point; thence South 42 degree 32 minutes 42 seconds East 76.35 feet to a computed point; thence South 33 degrees 47 minutes 51 seconds East 55.50 feet to a computed point; thence South 25 degrees 39 minutes 17 seconds East 56.30 feet to a computed point; thence South 18 degree 37 minutes 48 seconds East 359.21 feet to a computed point; thence South 21 degrees 39 minutes 35 seconds East 103.29 feet to a computed point; thence South 31 degrees 40 minutes 58 seconds East 64.50 feet to a computed point; thence South 37 degrees 24 minutes 58 seconds East 62.95 feet to a computed point; thence South 42 degrees 59 minutes 46 seconds East 48.02 feet to a computed point; thence South 43 degrees 25 minutes 04 seconds East 16.00 feet to a computed point; thence South 51 degrees 03 minutes 46 seconds East 44.35 feet to a computed point; thence South 60 degrees 52 minutes 48 seconds East 63.96 feet to a computed point; thence South 66 degrees 12 minutes 12 seconds East 83.33 feet to a computed point; thence South 72 degrees 36 minutes 26 seconds East 143.43 feet to a computed point; thence South 79 degrees 04 minutes 38 seconds East 123.36 feet to a computed point; thence South 85 degrees 18 minutes 43 seconds East 260.01 feet to a computed point; thence South 79 degrees 50 minutes 27 seconds East 197.72 feet to a computed point; thence South 76 degrees 27 minutes 24 seconds East 158.04 feet to a computed point; thence South 72 degrees 04 minutes 27 seconds East 199.41 feet to a computed point; thence South 74 degrees 03 minutes 04 seconds East 237.01 feet to a computed point; thence South 64 degrees 04 minutes 27 seconds East 110.22 feet to a computed point; thence South 52 degrees 41 minutes 19 seconds East 116.00 feet to a computed point; thence South 36 degrees 02 minutes 42 seconds East 159.32 feet to a computed point; thence South 31 degrees 54 minutes 01 second East 256.41 feet to a computed point; thence South 30 degrees 14 minutes 02 seconds East 206.54 feet to a computed point; thence South 26 degrees 21 minutes 39 seconds East 154.29 feet to a computed point; thence South 19 degrees 46 minutes 07 seconds East 159.66 feet to a computed point; thence South 16 degrees 26 minutes 06 seconds East 114.21 feet to a computed point; thence along the Randolph Telephone Membership Corporation property described in Deed Book 1782, Page 2350, Randolph County Public Registry the following courses and distances: South 89 degrees 09 minutes 27 seconds West 1,124.16 feet to a computed point; thence South 15 degrees 53 minutes 23 seconds East 421.10 feet to a computed point; thence along the western boundary line of the Randolph Telephone Membership Corporation property described in Deed Book 1132, Page 308, Randolph County Public Registry the following courses and distances: South 29 degrees 21 minutes 30 seconds East 105.34 feet to a computed point; thence South 22 degrees 21 minutes 35 seconds East 19.06 feet to a computed point; thence South 29 degrees 59 minutes 37 seconds East 50.01 feet to a computed point; thence South 46 degrees 36 minutes 30 seconds East 20.47 feet to a computed point; thence South 27 degrees 13 minutes 25 seconds East 24.32 feet to a computed point; thence South 23 degrees 10 minutes 39 seconds East 22.23 feet to a computed point; thence South 36 degrees 08 minutes 58 seconds East 25.85 feet to a computed point; thence South 28 degrees 01 minutes 04 seconds East 54.02 feet to a computed point; thence South 33 degrees 35 minutes 31 seconds East 84.27 feet to a computed point; thence South 31 degrees 58 minutes 41 seconds East 27.85 feet to a computed point; thence South 23 degrees 50 minutes 36 seconds East 114.39 feet to a computed point; thence South 20 degrees 01 minute 36 seconds East 111.36 feet to a computed point; thence along the Pat M. Bailey, Jr. and Betty Bailey property described in Deed Book 536, Page 112, Randolph County Public Registry the following courses and distances: South 73 degrees 34 minutes 44 seconds West 647.82 feet to a computed point; thence South 86 degrees 41 minutes 04 seconds West 135.98 feet to a computed point; thence along the Howard E. Cooper and Debra D. Cooper property described in Deed Book 1040, Page 450, Randolph County Public Registry the following courses and distances: North 01 degree 21 minutes 55 seconds West 257.07 feet to a computed point; thence North 00 degrees 44 minutes 12 seconds West 942.23 feet to a computed point; thence North 85 degrees 28 minutes 49 seconds West 585.33 feet to a computed point; thence South 03 degrees 57 minutes 26 seconds East 2,158.71 feet to a computed point; thence South 00 degrees 10 minutes 38 seconds West 404.07 feet along the Howard E. Cooper and Debra D. Cooper property described in Deed Book 1312, Page 1181, Randolph County Public Registry to a computed point; thence North 89 degrees 48 minutes 02 seconds West 89.76 feet to a computed point located on the northern margin of the 60‑foot right‑of‑way for Ross Harris Road (North Carolina Secondary Road 2835); thence along the northern margin of the right‑of‑way for Ross Harris Road the following courses and distances: North 41 degrees 40 minutes 34 seconds West 83.84 feet to a computed point; thence North 32 degrees 13 minutes 59 seconds West 142.02 feet to a computed point; thence North 47 degrees 51 minutes 45 seconds West 102.66 feet to a computed point; thence North 41 degrees 08 minutes 33 seconds West 93.28 feet to a computed point; thence North 22 degrees 55 minutes 30 seconds West 72.20 feet to a computed point; thence North 26 degrees 08 minutes 11 seconds West 150.11 feet to a computed point; thence North 30 degrees 59 minutes 12 seconds West 53.66 feet to a computed point; thence North 46 degrees 26 minutes 33 seconds West 49.16 feet to a computed point; thence North 63 degrees 21 minutes 52 seconds West 45.45 feet to a computed point; thence North 75 degrees 32 minutes 51 seconds West 12.52 feet to a computed point; thence North 87 degrees 32 minutes 54 seconds West 40.91 feet to a computed point; thence South 84 degrees 59 minutes 30 seconds West 160.36 feet to a computed point; thence South 73 degrees 42 minutes 01 second West 141.19 feet to a computed point; thence South 79 degrees 52 minutes 07 seconds West 73.90 feet to a computed point; thence North 82 degrees 58 minutes 18 seconds West 174.69 feet to a computed point; thence North 80 degrees 11 minutes 24 seconds West 260.44 feet to a computed point; thence North 84 degrees 13 minutes 10 seconds West 142.73 feet to a computed point; thence South 89 degrees 53 minutes 02 seconds West 123.50 feet to a computed point; thence South 80 degrees 51 minutes 19 seconds West 185.62 feet to a computed point; thence South 70 degrees 49 minutes 48 seconds West 64.71 feet to a computed point; thence South 60 degrees 55 minutes 22 seconds West 30.61 feet to a computed point; thence along the Edward B. Commins and Joyce M. Commins property described in Deed Book 2059, Page 1701, Randolph County Public Registry the following courses and distances: North 02 degrees 20 minutes 34 seconds West 214.30 feet to a computed point; thence South 89 degrees 12 minutes 54 seconds West 784.70 feet to a computed point; thence North 00 degrees 25 minutes 18 seconds West 594.29 feet to a computed point located on the eastern boundary line of the Roger D. DeHart property described in Estate File 76E, Page 195 in the office of the Randolph County Clerk of Superior Court; thence continuing along the eastern boundary line of the said DeHart property the following courses and distances: South 88 degrees 43 minutes 33 seconds East 230.45 feet to a computed point; thence North 02 degrees 17 minutes 22 seconds East 253.20 feet to a computed point; thence North 89 degrees 17 minutes 57 seconds East 281.03 feet to a computed point; thence North 05 degrees 53 minutes 27 seconds East 745.46 feet to a computed point; thence North 05 degrees 22 minutes 55 seconds East 1,642.09 feet to a computed point located on the southern boundary line of the Carol Woodell Brown property described in Deed Book 1578, Page 221, Randolph County Public Registry and further described as Tract # 2 on a plat recorded in Plat Book 55, Page 59, Randolph County Public Registry; thence continuing along the southern boundary line of the said Brown property the following course and distance: South 87 degrees 17 minutes 36 seconds East 515.74 feet to a computed point; thence North 02 degrees 19 minutes 35 seconds East 924.06 feet to a computed point located on the eastern margin of the right‑of‑way for Lions Rest Road; thence continuing along the eastern margin of the right‑of‑way for Lions Rest Road the following courses and distances: North 40 degrees 19 minutes 21 seconds East 60.61 feet to a computed point; thence North 38 degrees 06 minutes 16 seconds East 264.97 feet to a computed point; thence North 47 degrees 12 minutes 21 seconds East 62.01 feet to the point and place of the BEGINNING, and containing 253.88 acres of land, more or less.
This description is in accordance with a map entitled "Satellite Annexation Map For City of Asheboro(,) Property of THE NORTH CAROLINA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC." that was prepared by the City of Asheboro Engineering Department. This annexation map, which is identified by the engineering department as Job # 09006, is dated February 11, 2009. The property lines drawn on this annexation map were taken from Randolph County Tax Maps as of February 11, 2009.
Tract 3:
Grant Township, Randolph County, North Carolina:
BEGINNING at a computed point on the southern margin of the 60‑foot right‑of‑way for Ross Harris Road (North Carolina Secondary Road 2835) that is located North 65 degrees 45 minutes 18 seconds East 2,174.68 feet from the intersection of the centerline of Ross Harris Road with the centerline of Lions Rest Road (North Carolina Secondary Road 2837); thence from the said beginning point along the southern margin of the right‑of‑way for Ross Harris Road the following courses and distances: South 84 degrees 24 minutes 56 seconds East 33.40 feet to a computed point; thence South 80 degrees 09 minutes 42 seconds East 259.70 feet to a computed point; thence South 82 degrees 59 minutes 7 seconds East 185.26 feet to a computed point; thence North 79 degrees 57 minutes 47 seconds East 86.07 feet to a computed point; thence North 73 degrees 42 minutes 29 seconds East 138.58 feet to a computed point; thence North 84 degrees 57 minutes 07 seconds East 150.58 feet to a computed point; thence South 87 degrees 39 minutes 11 seconds East 30.53 feet to a computed point; thence South 63 degrees 19 minutes 42 seconds East 30.08 feet to a computed point; thence South 46 degrees 34 minutes 25 seconds East 32.19 feet to a computed point; thence South 31 degrees 02 minutes 07 seconds East 42.91 feet to a computed point; thence South 26 degrees 05 minutes 01 second East 145.84 feet to a computed point; thence South 22 degrees 52 minutes 53 seconds East 80.05 feet to a computed point; thence South 41 degrees 08 minutes 40 seconds East 106.58 feet to a computed point; thence South 47 degrees 54 minutes 11 seconds East 97.88 feet to a computed point; thence South 32 degrees 13 minutes 39 seconds East 138.76 feet to a computed point; thence South 41 degrees 38 minutes 39 seconds East 37.62 feet to a computed point; thence departing from the southern margin of the right‑of‑way for Ross Harris Road and following a bearing and distance of North 89 degrees 05 minutes 46 seconds West 1,271.06 feet to a computed point located at the southeastern corner of the Wayne Miller and Teresa Miller property described in Deed Book 1119, Page 13, Randolph County Public Registry; thence along the eastern boundary line of the said Miller property the following course and distance: North 01 degree 00 minutes 30 seconds West 552.92 feet to the point and place of the BEGINNING, and containing 13.06 acres of land, more or less.
This description is in accordance with a map entitled "Satellite Annexation Map For City of Asheboro(,) Property of THE NORTH CAROLINA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC." that was prepared by the City of Asheboro Engineering Department. This annexation map, which is identified by the engineering department as Job # 09006, is dated February 11, 2009. The property lines drawn on this annexation map were taken from Randolph County Tax Maps as of February 11, 2009.
PART VII.  Effective Date
SECTION 7.  This act is effective when it becomes law.  Taxes on property annexed under Part VI of this act for fiscal year 2009‑2010 shall be determined pursuant to G.S. 160A‑58.10. 
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 13th day of July, 2009.

	s/	 Walter H. Dalton
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 Governor

Approved 9:36 a.m. this 24th day of July, 2009