(A) The Purchasing Agency shall possess all the powers and duties authorized under IC 5-22, as may be supplemented from time to time by ordinances adopted by the Council and policies adopted by the Purchasing Agency.
(B) The Purchasing Agency shall act as the purchasing agency for every agency, board, office, branch, bureau, commission, council, department or other establishment of the town.
(C) The Purchasing Agency may designate in writing any employee of the town as a purchasing agent and the agent may delegate related duties to subordinate employee agents.
(D) The Council hereby promulgates the following policies regarding purchases by any and all departments and/or employees of the town:
(1) Any proposed purchase that is up to $2,500 shall be made in the open market, subject to the approval of the head of the corresponding department prior to such purchase.
(2) Any proposed purchase that is between $2,500 and $15,000 shall be subject to obtaining at least two quotes (three quotes when readily available) from companies/individuals known to deal in the subject product/service which the quotes are presented to the Town Manager for review and approval prior to such purchase.
(3) Any proposed purchase that is between $15,000 and $150,000 shall be subject to soliciting and obtaining at least three quotes from companies/individuals known to deal in the subject product/service which the quotes are presented to the Town Council for review and approval prior to such purchase.
(4) Any proposed purchase that is $150,000 shall be subject to the requirements of IC 5-22-7.
(E) (1) Notwithstanding the above, the purchase of:
(a) Natural resources;
(b) Power; and
(c) Any other commodity that provides utility service to the town shall not apply to the terms of this section.
(2) Notwithstanding the above, a proposed purchase that is subject to the terms of this section may be made, on a case by case basis, without complying with the requirements of the same if the Town Manager, at his/her sole discretion, determines that such purchase is needed for emergency purposes. Said purchase, and the justification for the same shall be subsequently presented to and reviewed by the Town Council.
(F) Supplies manufactured in the United States shall be specified for all purchases and shall be purchased unless the town determines that:
(1) The supplies are not manufactured in the United States in reasonably available quantities;
(2) The price of the supplies manufactured in the United States exceeds by an unreasonable amount the price of available and comparable supplies manufactured elsewhere;
(3) The quality of the supplies manufactured in the United States is substantially less than the quality of comparably priced available supplies manufactured elsewhere; or
(4) The purchase of supplies manufactured in the United States is not in the public interest.
(G) The section shall be retroactive to July 1, 1998. All public purchases since that date have been in compliance with this section.
(Ord. 1998-6, passed 11-9-98; Am. Ord. 2016-8, passed 11-14-16; Am. Ord. 2021-7, passed 3-22-21)