(A) Items that do not lend themselves to competitive bidding. Items such as subscriptions, dues to approved organizations, conference expenses, insurance payments, employee benefits, newspaper advertisements and notices, payments to other government units, utility service payments, postage, and the like.
(B) Cooperative and piggyback purchasing. The bidding requirements of this subchapter shall not apply to purchasing of any equipment or supplies which the purchasing agent determines to be in the best interest of the city obtained through a cooperative competitive bidding procedure or a "piggyback" contract prepared by and processed through another local, state, or federal governmental agency or joint powers authority made up of government agencies, including but not limited to the California Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS), California Communities, US Communities, General Services Administration (GSA) or Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC). The proposed contract should be based on at least three bids from contractors identified in such purchasing agreements or cooperatives. Wherever possible, purchases in excess of $15,000 require City Council approval.
(C) Sole source purchases. Purchases of materials, supplies and equipment if it can be obtained from only one manufacturer or vendor including proprietary items sold directly from the manufacturer, items that have only one distributor authorized to sell in this area, or items that perform a complex or unique function. Also includes upgrades, alterations, additions, deletions, to an existing proprietary article or process, or in which a warranty, guarantee or other assurances could be voided. Purchases in excess of $15,000 require City Council approval.
(D) Contracting for services in which an applicant deposits 100% of the costs of such service and agrees to replenish a deposit account for any additional costs incurred under the professional service agreement. The professional services to be contracted shall be contractually obligated to the city for purposes of oversight and supervision, not the applicant, and no public funds will be a source of any payment to the service provider under that specific contract. These contracts do not require City Council approval regardless of dollar amount.
(Ord. 656, passed 9-17-19; Am. Ord. 657, passed 11-5-19)