(A) Purchases of supplies, equipment and services for the city shall be exempt from the purchasing provisions provided in this chapter under the following circumstances:
(1) When the amount of purchase involved is $5,000 or less;
(2) When it is to the city's advantage to combine its purchases with those of another governmental entity in order to effect economies by bidding combined requirements, and the governmental entity actually soliciting the bids employs a bidding procedure adequate to ensure competition among responsible bidders. For example, the city may award a contract to a vendor through "piggy backing," in which a competitive bid procedure has been conducted by another public agency and the city's purchase is awarded on the same general terms as the other public agency;
(3) When the City Council finds that negotiation instead of bidding/quotation shall best serve the city due to the specialized nature of supplies, equipment or services;
(4) When the purchase can only be obtained from one manufacturer or vendor due to licensing or contractual restrictions, and is deemed a Sole Source purchase;
(5) When the city seeks to purchase or lease any land, building, or facility;
(6) When the city finds that it must initiate emergency purchases, as provided in section § 3.24.110 of this chapter;
(7) When the purchase is for office supplies and event materials;
(8) When the purchase is for travel expenses;
(9) When the purchase is for a subscription, dues, trade circular, book or periodical;
(10) When the purchase is for publishing a notice or advertisement in a local newspaper;
(11) When the purchase is for postage or delivery services;
(12) When the purchase is for specialized computer software, computer equipment and maintenance services; and
(13) When the purchase of goods or services is specialized, unique by nature or otherwise considered not appropriate for multiple solicitations, the competitive bidding and quotation requirements of this chapter are not required.
(B) Notwithstanding the listed exemption from bidding contained in this section, all monetary thresholds for the award and approval of the contract contained in this chapter shall still apply.
(`83 Code, § 3.24.120) (Ord. 82-3 (part), 1982; Ord. 93-27 § 5, 1993; Ord. 2016-07 § 1, 2016)