(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, all purchases of goods, general services, or facility construction under this section must be made by the director after giving reasonable opportunity for competition under procedures that are established by the director, with city manager approval, and that are consistent with the purpose of this section.
(b) If the city expenditure for the purchase of goods, general services, or facility construction exceeds $3,000, price quotations from not less than three independent vendors or contractors, if available, must be secured. If three independent vendors or contractors are not available, the director shall secure such price quotations as will, in the director's judgment, ensure that the city is purchasing the property or contracting for the best quality at the lowest possible cost. If the city expenditure for the purchase of goods, general services, or facility construction exceeds $3,000, the director shall follow the procedures for contacting disadvantaged businesses prescribed in Section 252.0215 of the Texas Local Government Code, as amended.
(c) The director may, with prior authorization by city council resolution, purchase goods, including high technology items, through a cooperative purchasing program established pursuant to Chapter 271, Subchapter D, F, or G, Texas Local Government Code, as amended, or through a cooperative purchasing program established by interlocal agreement pursuant to Chapter 791, Texas Government Code, as amended. Authorized participation in a cooperative purchasing program satisfies the requirements of this section.
(d) The city manager may establish procedures for purchasing goods, general services, or facility construction under this section through electronic means, including but not limited to the Internet, to the extent the procedures do not conflict with state law, the city charter, or other provisions of this code.
(e) A contract for facility construction that requires a city expenditure not exceeding $50,000 must provide that, in lieu of requiring performance and payment bonds, no money will be paid to the contractor for any work under the contract until the final completion and acceptance of the work by the city.
(f) The director may use a service order for minor services under $3,000, including mail and delivery services, repair, restoration, and remediation services necessary for a timely and efficient response to equipment failure or facility damage. (Ord. Nos. 12755; 13104; 14885; 15279; 16801; 17700; 17777; 18850; 19312; 20061; 22434; 24243; 25819; 28705; 30828)