(A) All proposals to award purchase orders or contracts under this subchapter shall be published at least 10 days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, in advance of the date announced for the receiving of bids, in a secular English language newspaper of general circulation throughout the city and shall simultaneously be posted on readily accessible bulletin boards in the city hall. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the placing of additional announcements in recognized trade journals or other newspapers. Advertisements for bids shall describe the character of the proposed contract or agreement in sufficient detail to enable the bidders thereon to know what their obligations will be, either in the advertisement itself, or by reference to detailed plans and specifications on file at the time of the publication of the first announcement. The advertisement shall also state the date, time, and place assigned for the opening of bids, and no bid shall be received at any time subsequent to the time indicated in the announcement. However, an extension of time may be granted for the opening of bids upon publication in a secular English newspaper of general circulation throughout the city of the date to which the bid opening has been extended. The time of the bid extension opening shall not be less than 5 days after the publication thereof, Sundays and legal holidays excluded.
(B) Cash, cashier’s check, or a certified check as a deposit of good faith, in a reasonable amount but not in excess of 10% of the contract amount, may be required of each bidder by the city on all bids involving amounts in excess of $20,000, and if so required, the advertisement for bids shall so specify.
(C) All specifications shall be drafted so as to promote overall economy for the purposes intended and encourage competition in satisfying the city’s needs, and shall not be unduly restrictive. The policy enunciated in this section applies to all specifications, including but not limited to those prepared for the city by architects, engineers, designers, and draftspersons.
(D) In addition to the method by which proposals to award purchase orders or contracts have previously been allowed under local ordinance, the City Council shall allow for the electronic posting of proposals to award purchase orders or contracts as well as the electronic posting on the internet of all bid specifications. This is in addition to the previously existing ordinance, and is not meant to amend, change or modify the method and manner by which proposals to award purchase orders or contracts may also be published.
(1983 Code, § 2-227) (Ord. 2395, passed 4-5-1984; Am. Ord. 3139, passed 3-7-2006; Am. Ord. 3229, passed 11-4-2008)