A FORMAL PURCHASE is any purchase of capital equipment which exceeds $20,000, or any supply, material, or service which exceeds $20,000. Except as otherwise provided, all purchase orders or contracts of whatever nature, for labor, services or work, the purchase or lease of personal property, materials, equipment or supplies, involving amounts in excess of $20,000, shall be let by free and open competitive bidding after advertisement, to the lowest responsible bidder. All such purchase orders or contracts, as defined above, which shall involve amounts of $20,000 or less, shall be let in the manner described above whenever so directed by the Mayor or City Council. The requirements for formal purchases shall not be circumvented (e.g., two or more purchases from the same vendor on the same date for items which have a total that exceeds $20,000.
(Ord. O-31-82, passed 11-23-82; amend. Ord. 21-86, passed 6-17-86; amend. Ord. 90-16, passed 7-3-90; amend. Ord. O-01-10, passed 1-5-10; amend. Ord. O-16-15, passed 5-5-15)