§ 42-11.1-2 - Definitions.
SECTION 42-11.1-2
§ 42-11.1-2 Definitions. – As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meaningsunless otherwise specified:
(1) "Contract" means an enforceable agreement entered into bya contractor and a state agency.
(2) "Contractor" means any person, partnership, firm,corporation, or association:
(i) Selling materials, equipment, or supplies or leasingproperty or equipment to a state agency:
(ii) Constructing, reconstructing, rehabilitating, orrepairing buildings or highways for, or on behalf of, a state agency; or
(iii) Rendering or providing services pursuant to a contractwith a state agency, including, without limitation, services which help peoplein need.
(3) "Designated payment office" means the office designatedby the state agency to which a proper invoice is to be submitted by acontractor.
(4) "Payment date" means the date on which a payment is dueaccording to a contract.
(5) "Proper invoice" means a written request for a contractpayment that is submitted by a contractor setting forth the description, price,and quantity of goods, property or services delivered or rendered, in such formand supported by such other substantiating documentation as the statecontroller or individual state agency may reasonably require. In the case ofstate highway and bridge construction contracts, periodic payment estimatesprepared by the department of transportation shall be considered properinvoices for purposes of this chapter and such estimates shall be preparedmonthly or more often and shall include the total amount of work done from thedate of the prior estimate.
(6) "Receipt of an invoice" means the date on which a properinvoice is actually received in the designated payment office or the date onwhich the state agency receives the purchased goods, property, or servicescovered by the proper invoice, whichever is later.
(7) "Required payment date" means the date by which acontract payment must be made in order for the state government not to becomeliable for interest payments, pursuant to subsections (b) and (g) of §42-11.1-5.
(8) "Set-off " means the reduction by the controller ofa payment due to a contractor by an amount equal to the amount of an unpaidlegally enforceable debt owed by the contractor to the state or any amountwhich the state is entitled to withhold under the terms of the contract, or anyamount owed by the contractor to the state by way of a statutory obligation orenforceable lien, of which the contractor had previous knowledge or notice.
(9) "State agency" means any department, board, bureau,commission, division, office, council, institution, authority or committee inthe executive, legislative, or judicial branches of state government; includingthe University of Rhode Island and all other quasi-public bodies created bystate law whose purpose and function are directly related to the health,safety, and welfare of the general populace of the state, including the RhodeIsland lottery.
(10) "State funds" means funds held by the general treasurerin the general fund of the state.
(11) "Nonprofit provider" means any not for profit firm,partnership, or corporation which provides services to people in need pursuantto a contract with a state agency. A nonprofit provider is a contractor forpurposes of this chapter. A nonprofit provider shall not be considered a publicbenefit corporation for the purposes of § 42-11.1-14.