Except as otherwise herein provided, all purchase orders or contracts of whatever nature for the purchase, lease, or sale of personal property, materials, equipment, or supplies involving amounts in excess of $20,000, made by or on behalf of the city, shall be let by free and open competitive bidding after advertisement, to the lowest responsible bidder, or in the appropriate instance to the highest responsible bidder, depending upon whether the city is to expend or to receive money. All purchase orders or contracts, as defined above, which shall involve amounts of $20,000 or less, shall be let in the manner above described whenever practicable, except that these purchase orders or contracts may be let in the open market in a manner calculated to ensure the best interests of the public, after solicitation of bids by mail, telephone, or otherwise.
(1983 Code, § 2-223) (Ord. 2395, passed 4-5-1984; Am. Ord. 3139, passed 3-7-2006)