(A) Before the Council shall make any contract in excess of $30,000 for general improvements, such as water extensions, sewers, public heating systems, bridges or work on streets, any motor or other mechanical equipment, including parking meters and street machinery, or any other work or improvement where the cost of the improvement shall be assessed to the property, an estimate of the cost thereof shall be made by the City Engineer and submitted to the Council, and no contract shall be entered into for any such work or improvement, or for the purchase of the equipment, for any price exceeding $30,000, without advertising for bids, unless the contract shall be entered into for the benefit of the city’s Electric Utility. A city electric utility may enter into a contract for any such work or improvement or for the purchase of such equipment without advertising for bids if the price is $30,000 or less, the price is $60,000 or less and the city’s Electric Utility has gross annual revenue from retail sales in excess of $1,000,000, the price is $90,000 or less and the city’s Electric Utility has gross annual revenue from retail sales in excess of $5,000,000, or the price is $120,000 or less and the city’s Electric Utility has gross annual revenue from retail sales in excess of $10,000,000. In advertising for bids for any such work, or for the purchase of the equipment, the Council shall cause the amount of the estimate to be published therewith. The advertisement shall be published at least 10 days in some newspaper of general circulation published in the city. In case of a public emergency resulting from infectious or contagious diseases, destructive windstorms, floods, snow, war or an exigency or pressing necessity or unforeseen need calling for immediate action or remedy to prevent a serious loss of or serious injury or damage to life, health or property, estimates of costs and advertising for bids may be waived in the emergency ordinance when adopted by a 3/4 vote of the Council and entered on the record. If, after advertising for bids as provided in this section, the governing body receives fewer than 2 bids on a contract for any work or improvement, or if the bids received by the governing body contain a price which exceeds the estimated cost of the project, the governing body shall have the authority to negotiate a contract in an attempt to complete the proposed project at a cost commensurate with the estimate given.
(B) If the materials are of such a nature that, in the opinion of the manufacturer and with the concurrence of the governing body, no cost can be estimated until the materials have been manufactured or assembled to the specific qualifications of the city, the governing body may authorize the manufacture and assemblage of the materials and may thereafter approve the estimated cost expenditure when it is provided by the manufacturer. The city bidding procedure shall be waived when materials or equipment are purchased at the same price and from the same seller as materials or equipment which have formerly been obtained pursuant to the state bidding procedure.
(Prior Code, § 2-324)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see Neb. RS 16-321