(A) The Town Council as the governmental body under I.C. 5-22 hereby determines that the Town Council is hereby designated as the Purchasing Agent and does hereby reserve the right to designate additional purchasing agents in writing as the need arises.
(B) The Purchasing Agent may purchase supplies with an estimated cost of less than $25,000 on the open market without inviting or receiving quotes or bids.
(C) The Purchasing Agent may purchase services in whatever manner the purchaser determines to be reasonable.
(D) The Purchasing Agent shall, whenever possible, purchase supplies or materials from the Department of Corrections or the Rehabilitation Center in the state, and shall purchase materials made in the United States unless the town determines that:
(1) Supplies are not manufactured by the Department of Corrections or the Rehabilitation Center or in the United States in reasonably available quantities;
(2) The price or quality of supplies manufactured by the Department of Corrections, the Rehabilitation Center, or in the United States exceeds by an unreasonable amount the price of available and comparable supplies manufactured elsewhere or is substantially less than the quality of comparably priced available supplies manufactured elsewhere; and/or
(3) The purchase of supplies manufactured by the Department of Correction, the Rehabilitation Center or in the United States is not in the public interest.
(E) All invitations for bids, request for proposals, or requests for specifications shall be published in accordance with the requirements of I.C. 5-3-1.
(F) All bids or requests for proposals received by the town shall be opened publicly at the time and place designated in the notice with proposals to be opened in such a fashion to avoid disclosure of contents thereof during the process of negotiations.
(G) After review and within 48 hours of receipt of a bid or proposal, if the Purchasing Agent determines there has been an inadvertent or erroneous bidder proposal submitted, the Purchasing Agent may permit the correction or withdraw of any proposal; provided, however, the Purchasing Agent will not permit change in bid prices or other proposals of a bid prejudicial to the interest of the town or fair competition after bid opening.
(H) A Purchasing Agent may make a purchase without soliciting bids or proposals, provided a special purchasing method is allowed in accordance with I.C. 5-22-10.
(I) All supplies, materials, and equipment with an estimated cost of less than $25,000 to $75,000 shall be made by inviting quotes from at least three persons known to deal in the lines or classes of supplies to be purchased, which request shall be made at least seven days prior to the time fixed for receiving the quotes. The purchasing contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder for each line or class of supplies quoted. All quotes may be rejected, and if a quote is not received from a responsible bidder the supplies, materials, or equipment may be purchased by using methods for special purchases. Services may be purchased in whatever manner the Purchasing Agent determines to be reasonable.
(1995 Code, § 33.15) (Ord. 3-1998, passed 7-16-1998)