(A) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all contracts shall be awarded to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder whose bid complies materially with the specifications publicized.
(B) The County Administrator may, however, upon the advice and recommendation of the Purchasing Director, refuse all bids or may refuse any bid that is not responsive or is not from a responsible bidder or for any other reason justified by this chapter and may direct the Purchasing Director to re-advertise for bids, if required, if the public interest would be served thereby; provided, however, that if the County Administrator shall refuse all bids, he or she shall retain, for county records, a written explanation of the reasons therefor.
(C) If in the best interest of the county, the awarding authority may authorize an award of a bid, quotation, or contract that is not the lowest but is submitted by a more responsive or responsible bidder. See § 34.49(B).
(D) Bids of $25,000 or less, and bids not exceeding $50,000 established in the current budget year, shall be subject to review and approval by the Administrator or his or her designee.
(E) Bids exceeding $25,000 and not included in the current budget year, or bids not exceeding $50,000 as shown in the current budget year, shall be subject to review and approval by County Council; provided that these amounts may be increased or decreased by appropriate provision in the annual budget ordinances, or by resolution of Council.
(F) (1) It is the intent of this chapter that County Council shall have an oversight role in the selection of successful bids in excess of $25,000 if not included in the current budget year, or bids of $50,000 or less if included in the current budget year, and that County Council shall evaluate and approve the ultimate selection publicly.
(2) The provisions of this section shall also apply to contracts awarded on the basis of requests for proposals or request for qualifications.
(3) The County Administrator must sign all contracts on behalf of the county, except those routine maintenance agreements or other routine purchasing agreements which have been delegated to the Purchasing Director or other designee to execute on behalf of the county, or except as otherwise provided herein.
(Ord. 01-02-04, passed 1-7-2004; Am. Ord. 10-42-06, passed 11-15-2006; Am. Ord. 5-14-2022, passed 7-6-2022)