(A) Except as provided in Neb. RS 18-412.01 for a contract with a public power district to operate, renew, replace, or add to the electric distribution, transmission, or generation system of the city, no contract for enlargement or general improvements, such as water extensions, sewers, public heating system, bridges, work on streets, or any other work or improvement when the cost of the enlargement or improvement is assessed to the property, costing over $30,000, shall be made unless it is first approved by the City Council.
(B) Except as provided in Neb. RS 18-412.01, before the City Council makes any contract in excess of $30,000 for enlargement or general improvements, such as water extensions, sewers, public heating system, bridges, work on streets, or any other work or improvement when the cost of the enlargement or improvement is assessed to the property, an estimate of the cost shall be made by the City Engineer and submitted to the City Council. In advertising for bids as provided in divisions (C) and (E) below, the City Council may publish the amount of the estimate.
(C) Advertisements for bids shall be required for any contract costing over $30,000 entered into:
(1) For enlargement or general improvements, such as water extensions, sewers, public heating system, bridges, work on streets, or any other work or improvement when the cost of the enlargement or improvement is assessed to the property; or
(2) For the purchase of equipment used in the construction of the enlargement or general improvements.
(D) A city electric utility may enter into a contract for the enlargement or improvement of the electric system or for the purchase of equipment used for the enlargement or improvement without advertising for bids if the price is:
(1) Thirty thousand dollars or less;
(2) Sixty thousand dollars or less and the city electric utility has gross annual revenue from retail sales in excess of one million dollars;
(3) Ninety thousand dollars or less and the city electric utility has gross annual revenue from retail sales in excess of five million dollars; or
(4) One hundred twenty thousand dollars or less and the city electric utility has gross annual revenue from retail sales in excess of ten million dollars.
(E) The advertisement provided for in division (C) above shall be published at least seven days prior to the bid closing in a legal newspaper in or of general circulation 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 authorized by Neb. RS 17-613 when adopted by a three-fourths vote of the City Council and entered of record.
(F) If, after advertising for bids as provided in this section, the City Council receives fewer than two bids on a contract or if the bids received by the City Council contain a price which exceeds the estimated cost, the City Council may negotiate a contract in an attempt to complete the proposed enlargement or general improvements at a cost commensurate with the estimate given.
(G) If the materials are of such a nature that, in the opinion of the manufacturer and with the concurrence of the City Council or Board of Public Works, no cost can be estimated until the materials have been manufactured or assembled to the specific qualifications of the city, the City Council or Board of Public Works may authorize the manufacture and assemblage of those materials and may thereafter approve the estimated cost expenditure when it is provided by the manufacturer.
(Neb. RS 17-568.01)
(H) Any city bidding procedure may be waived by the City Council or Board of Public Works:
(1) 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 in Neb. RS 81-145 through 81-162;
(2) When the contract is negotiated directly with a sheltered workshop pursuant to Neb. RS 48-1503; or
(3) When required to comply with any federal grant, loan, or program.
(Neb. RS 17-568.02)
(I) (1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law or a home rule charter, a city which has established, by an interlocal agreement with any county, a joint purchasing division or agency may purchase personal property without competitive bidding if the price for the property has been established by the federal General Services Administration or the materiel division of the Department of Administrative Services.
(2) For the purpose of this division (I), the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Includes but is not limited to supplies, materials, and equipment used by or furnished to any officer, office, department, institution, board, or other agency.
PURCHASING or PURCHASE. The obtaining of personal property by sale, lease, or other contractual means.
(Neb. RS 18-1756)
Statutory reference:
Requirements for public lettings, see Neb. RS 73-101 et seq.