(A) Purchases of supplies, materials or equipment, the cost of which is less than $10,000, may be made in the open market but those purchases shall, where practicable, be based on at least three competitive bids. The Purchasing Agent may solicit bids verbally or by telephone, or may contact prospective bidders by written communication.
(B) If a contract is to be awarded, it shall be awarded to the bidder whose bid is in the best interest of the city. When determining whether a bid is in the best interest of the city, the price bid and other relevant factors, including, without limitation, reputation and reference, shall be considered, but the price bid shall not necessarily be the determining factor. If the Purchasing Agent shall find any of the bids to be satisfactory, the Purchasing Agent, subject to the rights reserved in the last sentence of this subsection, shall accept the bid which is in the best interest of the city, unless the City Council has expressly reserved the right to have the City Council accept the bid. If the City Council has expressly reserved the right to accept the bid, the bid or bids received shall be examined, tabulated and reported to the City Council with the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent. When the bids are submitted to the City Council, if the City Council shall find any of the bids to be satisfactory, the City Council, subject to the rights reserved in the last sentence of this subsection, shall accept the bid of the low qualified bidder. The award may be by resolution or ordinance. The City Council shall have the right to reject any or all bids and to waive irregularities in bidding and to accept bids which do not conform in every respect to the bidding requirements.
(Am. Ord. 090427-1, passed 4-27-2009)