(a) For purposes of this section “domestic steel” shall mean steel (i) made from materials found in the United States and (ii) fabricated in the United States.
(b) All bid specifications for public improvements shall request the bidder to determine whether he or she is able to submit a bid using domestic steel. If both of the following apply, the bidder shall submit an alternate bid using the maximum amount of domestic steel possible in light of the technology in existence at the time the bid is submitted:
(1) The public improvement which incorporates domestic steel is of equal or superior quality to that of a like public improvement which incorporates imported or foreign-made steel; and
(2) The public improvement may be constructed at a cost which is not more than five percent (5%) greater than the cost of an improvement which is constructed of only imported or foreign-made steel. Even if divisions (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section do not apply, the bidder may, at his or her option, submit an alternate bid using domestic steel.
(c) In evaluating bids for a public improvement, the Commissioner of Purchases and Supplies shall give preference to a public improvement bid which incorporates domestic steel, provided that the City official who oversees construction of the improvement determines that the quality of such improvement is equal or superior to that of a like improvement which is bid using only imported or foreign-made steel, and provided further that the price bid for the public improvement which incorporates domestic steel does not exceed by more than five percent (5%) the lowest price bid for the improvement which is constructed only of imported or foreign-made steel. The Commissioner of Purchases and Supplies shall promulgate regulations for the application of the preference. Said regulations shall be published in the City Record and shall include a requirement that the Commissioner take into consideration the total percentage of domestic steel used in the improvement.
(Ord. No. 24-01. Passed 3-19-01, eff. 3-26-01)