(a) All contracts involving any expenditure in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) shall first be authorized and directed by ordinance of Council, provided that the Council may increase the expenditure limit contained in this section above fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) by passage of an ordinance receiving a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Council. Except as provided in divisions (b) and (c) of this section, when so authorized and directed, the director of the department involved shall make a written contract with the lowest and best bidder after advertisement once a week for two consecutive weeks in the City Record.
(b) When authorized by ordinance passed by the Council and in accordance with the applicable laws, competitive bidding and advertisement are not required for the City to enter into contracts for the purchase of supplies, services, materials and equipment through employment of cooperative purchase arrangements with other governmental agencies.
(c) When authorized by ordinance passed by the Council, competitive bidding and advertisement are not required for the City to enter into contracts for any purpose for which contracts may be awarded by a municipal corporation without advertisement or competitive bidding under the general laws of the State of Ohio.
(d) There shall be no splitting of orders to avoid the effect of this section, and any contract made contrary to or in evasion of the provisions of this section shall be illegal and void.
(Effective November 4, 2008)