(a)
The department shall develop and promulgate regulations regarding life standards for vending facility equipment. These regulations shall include, but not be limited to, life expectancy of equipment, time periods within which equipment shall be replaced, and exceptions to the requirement of replacement of equipment within the specified time periods, including when there is a history of no service problems. These regulations shall also provide for exceptions to the life standard or life expectancy policies allowing earlier replacement under certain circumstances including excessive mechanical failures or other malfunction that is not the fault of the operator.
(b)
The department, in administering the Business Enterprises Program, shall consult with the Department of General Services and develop a system of expediting equipment orders to ensure timely delivery, thereby reducing financial hardship to vendors and allowing provision of continuous food service as required by the contracting agency. This system shall not preclude the Department of General Services from exercising oversight and review of the purchasing process.