A. To the extent not prohibited by state statute, it shall be the policy of the city to procure goods and services from qualified local bidders to the greatest extent possible. In order to be considered a qualified local bidder, a business must meet each of the following criteria:
1. Located within limits of the county.
2. Employs year round staff located at the business within the county.
3. Is current with property tax payments, sales tax, water billing and other utility tax payments to the city.
4. Does not have any outstanding cited code violations.
5. Is not receiving any incentives or subsidies from the city.
6. Has adequately qualified/trained staff to service the bid item.
B. If the lowest responsible bidder is not a qualified local bidder and if a qualified local bidder has submitted a bid which is within the applicable percentage (as hereinafter set forth) of the lowest responsible bidder for an item or bid the qualified local bidder shall be given written notice by the city to that effect and shall, within ten (10) days from the date of such notice, provide written confirmation to the city that it will match the bid price of the lowest responsible bidder. Should a qualified local bidder fail to provide such confirmation within the time allowed its bid shall be considered as originally submitted.
C. When more than one qualified local bidder is within the applicable percentage of the lowest responsible bidder, only the qualified local bidder submitting the lowest local bid shall be given the opportunity to match the bid of the lowest responsible bidder. It shall, where the bid is an aggregate of separate price components, reduce the price of each subcomponent of its aggregate bid by the same percentage that was used to match the bid of the lowest responsible bidder.
D. The applicable percentage is set forth on the table below:
Amount Of Bid | Preference Provision |
Up to $499,999.00 | 5 percent |
$500,000.00 to $749,999.00 | 4 percent |
$750,000.00 to $999,999.00 | 3 percent |
$1,000,000.00 to $1,249,999.00 | 2 percent |
$1,250,000.00 to $1,499,999.00 | 1 percent |
Over $1.5 million | No preference consideration |
E. The city may reject any and all bids and award the contract to someone other than the lowest responsible bidder or a qualified local bidder who matches the lowest responsible bid upon a two- thirds (2/3) vote of the city council members then holding office. (Ord. 2008.03, 5-19-2008)