(A) In cases where the city code requires a written competitive bid for the purchase of goods or services, in determining the lowest responsible bidder, when responsibility and quality are equal, a credit in a percentage of the bid submitted by the lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications shall be given to a bidder that meets the definition of a “small local business” in this chapter as follows: 5% of the amount up to $500,000; 4% of the amount between $500,001 and $750,000; 3% of the amount between $750,001 and $1,000,000; 2% of the amount between $1,000,001 and $1,250,000 and 1% of the amount between $1,250,001 and $1,500,000. For example, if the lowest responsible bid is $1,000,000, the preference would be $42,500 ($500,000 x .05 + $250,000 x .04 + $250,000 x .03). The preference applies to all contracts, including contracts over $1,500,000, but the amount of the preference is limited, as provided herein, so that the maximum preference is $50,000.
(B) As an alternative to the employment requirements described in the definition of a “small local business,” and only with respect to trade services or construction contracts to perform for which the contractor intends to hire employees or to subcontract, a contractor submitting a bid shall satisfy the resident employment requirements for obtaining preference as follows. With the submission of its bid, the contractor shall submit a certification, under penalty of perjury, that it has verified its own proposed employee base for performance of the contract and confirmed with all subcontractors providing bids used to formulate the contractor's bid, all of whom have subcontracted with or will subcontract with the contractor, that at least 50% of the labor hours devoted to performance of the contract will be provided by residents of the city. During or within one year after performance of the contract, the city manager shall have the right to audit all the contractor’s records to confirm the accuracy of the contractor’s certification. The contractor shall provide to the city all documents (including subcontractors’ records) appropriate to perform such an audit. Should it be determined, after such audit by the city manager, that the requirements of this subsection have not been met, or should the contractor not upon request provide documents sufficient for the audit required by this subsection to be performed, the contractor shall be required to pay upon demand to the city the entire amount of any preference granted, which amount may be withheld from any payment otherwise due the contractor. The foregoing is in addition to any other consequences that may be imposed upon the contractor for violation of the provisions of a city ordinance. The city manager’s determination under this subsection may be reviewed pursuant to sections 1-55 et seq. of the city code.
(C) Subject to review by the city manager, the requirements to obtain a small local business preference may be established by submission with the bid of certification, under penalty of perjury, that the business meets such requirement, including a list showing all employee addresses, and affirming that the employees have granted permission for the use of their addresses.
(D) The city manager shall determine whether a business is a small local business under this section, including whether the principal office of the business is in the city, and whether employees are residents of the city. The city manager's determination shall be final and not appealable under any provision of the city code, except for the determination described in subsection (B) of this section.
(E) The city manager may adopt, or instruct the purchasing agent to adopt, such regulations, applications and forms as the city manager determines are appropriate to implement the provisions of this section.
(F) The provisions of this section shall not apply when the small local business preference described herein is contrary to or precluded by requirements of State or federal law, or contrary to or precluded by requirements of a State or federal funding source or program providing assistance to the city for the particular project.
(G) In addition to any other consequence that may be imposed for violation of a city ordinance, the city manager may prohibit a business entity that he/she determines has falsely claimed to be a small local business from bidding on city contracts for a period of up to five years. The city manager’s determination may be reviewed pursuant to sections 1-55 et seq. of the city code.
(Ord. No. 2943)