Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 125
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 125.04 (2026)

Determining what supplies and services are purchased by or for state agencies

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Effective:
September 30, 2021
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly
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(A) Except for the requirements of division (B) of this section, section 125.092, and division (B) of section 125.11 of the Revised Code, sections 125.04 to 125.08 and 125.09 to 125.15 of the Revised Code do not apply to or affect state institutions of higher education.

(B)(1) As used in this division:

(a) "Chartered nonpublic school" has the same meaning as in section 3310.01 of the Revised Code.

(b) "Emergency medical service organization" has the same meaning as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(c) "Governmental agency" means a political subdivision or special district in this state or any other state established by or under law, or any combination of these entities; the United States or any department, division, or agency of the United States; one or more other states or groups of states; other purchasing consortia; and any agency, commission, or authority established under an interstate compact or agreement.

(d) "Political subdivision" means any county, township, municipal corporation, school district, conservancy district, township park district, park district created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, regional transit authority, regional airport authority, regional water and sewer district, or port authority. "Political subdivision" also includes any other political subdivision described in the Revised Code that has been approved by the department of administrative services to participate in the department's contracts under this division.

(e) "Private fire company" has the same meaning as in section 9.60 of the Revised Code.

(f) "State institution of higher education" has the meaning defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.

(2) Subject to division (C) of this section, the department of administrative services may permit a state institution of higher education, governmental agency, political subdivision, private fire company, private, nonprofit emergency medical service organization, or chartered nonpublic school to participate in contracts into which the department has entered for the purchase of supplies and services. The department may charge the entity a reasonable fee to cover the administrative costs the department incurs as a result of participation by the entity in such a purchase contract.

A political subdivision desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a certified copy of an ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority or governing board of the political subdivision. The resolution or ordinance shall request that the political subdivision be authorized to participate in such contracts and shall agree that the political subdivision will be bound by such terms and conditions as the department prescribes and that it will directly pay the vendor under each purchase contract. A private fire company, private, nonprofit emergency medical service organization, or chartered nonpublic school desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a written request for inclusion in the program signed by the chief officer of the company, organization, or chartered nonpublic school. A governmental agency desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a written request for inclusion in the program. A state institution of higher education desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a certified copy of resolution of the board of trustees or similar authorizing body. The resolution shall request that the state institution of higher education be authorized to participate in such contracts.

A request for inclusion shall include an agreement to be bound by such terms and conditions as the department prescribes and to make direct payments to the vendor under each purchase contract.

(3) The board of elections of a county that is authorized to participate in contracts under division (B)(2) of this section may participate in contracts under that division under the same terms and conditions that apply to the county.

(4) The department shall include in its annual report, an estimate of the purchases made by state institutions of higher education, governmental agencies, political subdivisions, boards of elections, private fire companies, private, nonprofit emergency medical service organizations, and chartered nonpublic schools from contracts pursuant to this division. The department may require such entities to file a report with the department, as often as it finds necessary, stating how many such contracts the entities participated in within a specified period of time, and any other information the department requires.

(5) Purchases made by a political subdivision or a board of elections under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. No political subdivision shall make any purchase under this division when bids have been received for such purchase by the subdivision, unless such purchase can be made upon the same terms, conditions, and specifications at a lower price under division (B)(2) of this section.

(C) A political subdivision as defined in division (B) of this section or a board of elections may purchase supplies or services from another party, including a political subdivision, instead of through participation in contracts described in division (B) of this section if the political subdivision or board of elections can purchase those supplies or services from the other party upon equivalent terms, conditions, and specifications but at a lower price than it can through those contracts. Purchases that a political subdivision or board of elections makes under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. A political subdivision or board of elections that makes any purchase under this division shall maintain sufficient information regarding the purchase to verify that the political subdivision or board of elections satisfied the conditions for making a purchase under this division. Nothing in this division restricts any action taken by a county or township as authorized by division (B)(1) of section 9.48 of the Revised Code.

(D) This section does not apply to supplies or services purchased by a state agency directly as provided in section 125.05 of the Revised Code, or to purchases of supplies or services for the emergency management agency or other state agencies as provided in section 125.061 of the Revised Code.

Last updated August 3, 2023 at 2:45 PM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1983–2021 · leading case: Control Data Corp. v. Controlling Bd., 474 N.E.2d 336 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 1983).
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Control Data Corp. v. Controlling Bd., 474 N.E.2d 336 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 1983). · cites it 2× “06 states that: “No elective or appointive state officer, board, or commission, other than those excepted in section 125.04 of the Revised Code, shall procure or purchase any supply or equipment or contract of insurance or make contracts for or operate data processing machine…”
GLA Water Mgmt. Co. v. Univ. of Toledo, 963 N.E.2d 207 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 2011). · cites it 4× “11 of the Revised Code, sections 125.04 to 125.08 and 125.09 to 125.”
Steingass Mech. Contracting, Inc. v. Warrensville Heights Bd. of Educ., 784 N.E.2d 118 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 2003). · cites it 2× “23 and in section 125.04 of the Revised Code, all of the following shall apply: {¶10} “* * * {¶ 11} “(6) None but the lowest responsible bid shall be accepted.”
Hardrives Paving & Constr., Inc. v. City of Niles, 650 N.E.2d 482 (Ohio Ct. App. 11th Dist. 1994). · cites it 2× “When an expenditure within the department, other than the compensation of persons employed therein, exceeds ten thousand dollars, such expenditure shall first be authorized and directed by ordinance of the city legislative authority. When so authorized and directed, except where…”
Roberts v. Mahoning Cnty., 495 F. Supp. 2d 719 (N.D. Ohio 2007). · cites it 4× “In addition, the Board of Mahoning County Commissioners reserves the right to participate in state contracts which the Department of Administrative Services, Of *751 fice of State Purchasing has entered into for the purchase of supplies, services, equipment and certain materials…”
Merslie, Inc. v. Ohio Dep't of Admin. Servs., 663 N.E.2d 1357 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 1995). · cites it 4× “Specifically, appellants take issue with the trial court’s findings that (1) R.C. 125.04(B) does not prohibit ODE from entering into licensing agreements with school districts who receive career information via the Ohio Career Information System (“OCIS”), and (2) ODE has…”
Rider-Durst v. Conotton Valley Union Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn., 2021-Ohio-3587. · cites it 2× “23 and in section 125.04 of the Revised Code, all of the following shall apply: (1) The board shall cause to be prepared the plans, specifications, and related information as required in divisions (A)(1), (2), and (3) of section 153.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 125.04(A): 1 case
GLA Water Mgmt. Co. v. Univ. of Toledo, 963 N.E.2d 207 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 2011). “11 of the Revised Code, sections 125.04 to 125.08 and 125.09 to 125.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 125.04(B): 2 cases
Roberts v. Mahoning Cnty., 495 F. Supp. 2d 719 (N.D. Ohio 2007). “In addition, the Board of Mahoning County Commissioners reserves the right to participate in state contracts which the Department of Administrative Services, Of *751 fice of State Purchasing has entered into for the purchase of supplies, services, equipment and certain materials…”
Merslie, Inc. v. Ohio Dep't of Admin. Servs., 663 N.E.2d 1357 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 1995). “Specifically, appellants take issue with the trial court’s findings that (1) R.C. 125.04(B) does not prohibit ODE from entering into licensing agreements with school districts who receive career information via the Ohio Career Information System (“OCIS”), and (2) ODE has…”
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