181.08 LOCAL PREFERENCE.

   (a)    In determining the lowest and best bid for supplies, commodities, materials, equipment, furnishings or general services, the Board of Control shall exercise a preference for local bidders as provided herein. The local preference shall also apply to contracts for the building, repair or renovation of public buildings or improvements.

   (b)    Bidders having established their principal place of business, defined as a business with a significant economic and physical presence in Cuyahoga Falls for two successive calendar years prior to the bid opening date, shall be preferred as lowest and best if their bids does not exceed by more than three percent (3%), with an upper limit of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), the apparent lowest and best bid.

   (c)    To qualify for local preference, bidders shall state on the bid documents their principal place of business, the business address where work will be administered (post office boxes will not be accepted in lieu of a street address) and the date of establishment. Each bidder shall have only one principal place of business.

   (d)    Local preferences shall not be applied as provided herein for any bids where prohibited by federal or state laws or regulations.

   (e)    Local preferences shall only be applied in considering the lowest and best bid. In no event shall any preference granted herein exceed a maximum of three percent (3%) or ten thousand dollars ($10,000), whichever is less.

   (f)    The City shall indicate in all its invitations to bid and specification for all public contractors for supplies, equipment and materials, excluding construction contracts and contracts financed in whole or in part by contributions or loans from any agency of the State of Ohio or United States Government, that it shall apply a local bid preference as outlined in this section in the evaluation and award of bids received.

(Ord. 99-2022. Passed 10-24-22.)