Alaska Bidder Preference Program

Did you know the State of Alaska has a Product preference program?  Below is a list of the various preferences. Under the State’s procurement code, the Alaska Product Preference can provide a local bidder or offeror with a cost preference between three and seven percent.These include:

Alaska Offerors Preference

A contract award is made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder after applying the 5% bidder preference if the offeror maintains a place of business in the state.

Alaska Veteran Preference

A contract award is made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder after applying the 5% / $5,000 MAX veteran preference. An “Alaska veteran” means a bidder/offeror that qualifies under AS 36.30.321 (a) as an Alaska bidder.

Alaska Product Preference

In some circumstances, supplies and services are obtained through the use of a Request for Proposals (RFP). Responses to RFPs are usually evaluated using numerical rating systems that consider cost and other factors. When an RFP is used, vendors that qualify for the Alaska bidder preference will also receive an additional 10% of the available evaluation points.

Employment Program Preference

If a bidder or offeror qualifies as an Alaska bidder AND is offering services through an employment program, a 15 percent preference shall be applied to their price in the bid or proposal

 Alaskans with Disabilities Preference

If a bidder or offeror qualifies as an Alaska bidder AND, if a bidder is a:

(1) SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, owned by a person with a disability

(2) PARTNERSHIP, under AS 32.06 or AS 32.11 and each of the partners is a person with a disability

(3) LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, organized under AS 10.50 if each of the members is a person with a disability

(4) CORPORATION, is wholly owned by individuals and each of the individuals is a person with a disability (

5) JOINT VENTRUE, composed of ventures that qualify under (1)-(4) of this subsection a

10 percent preference shall be applied to their price in the bid or proposal.

Local Agricultural and Fisheries Product Preference

Use of local agricultural and fisheries products required in purchases with state money.  When agricultural products are purchased by the state or by a school district that receives state money, a 7% preference shall be applied to the price of the products harvested in the state.

Recycled Product Preference

In the evaluation of a bid or proposal for procurement of products, the agency shall decrease the bid or proposal by 5% if the bid or proposal indicates that the products being purchased will be recycled products.

Click here for more information on the Alaska Product Preference Program.