The Purchasing Agent shall make purchases of supplies, materials, equipment and services in an amount not to exceed $6,000 without prior Council approval. Any purchase which exceeds $6,000 but does not exceed $20,000 shall require prior Council approval, which shall specify purchase by formal bid or open market procedure. All supplies, materials, equipment and services, when the estimated cost thereof shall exceed $20,000, shall be purchased by formal, written bid from the lowest and best qualified provider, and after due notice inviting proposals as specified below.
(A) Notices, at the discretion of the Purchasing Agent, inviting bids shall be published once in at least one official newspaper in the city at least five days preceding the last day for the receipt of proposals. The newspaper notice, when it is used, shall include a general description of the articles to be purchased, shall state where bid plans and specifications may be secured, and the time and place of opening bids. In all cases a notice inviting bids will be posted in an appropriate place in the City Hall at least five days preceding the last day for the receipt of proposals.
(B) The Purchasing Agent also shall solicit bids from prospective vendors and contractors by mailing them copies of bids with the necessary specifications, and any other information which will acquaint them with proposed purchases.
(C) Bids shall be sealed, shall be identified on the envelope, shall be submitted at the place and not later than the time stated in the public notice inviting bids and shall be opened publicly at the time and place specified in the notice. A tabulation of all bids received shall be made available for public inspection.
(Ord. 193, passed 4-3-91; Am. Ord. 276, passed 11-17-10)