Subdivision 1. General Rule. For the sale or purchase of supplies, materials, equipment or the rental thereof, or the construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of real or personal property, where the amount involved is more than $175,000, unless the Council shall by emergency ordinance other-wise provide, the City Manager shall advertise for bids in such manner as may be required by law. Contracts of this magnitude shall be let only by the Council to the lowest responsible bidder after consideration of the recommendation of the City Manager. The Council shall require every bid to be accompanied by a bond or certified check in such sums and with such surety and conditioned as the Council may prescribe. The Council may however, reject any and all bids. Subject to the provisions of this Charter, the Council may by ordinance adopt further regulations for the making of bids and the letting of contracts.
Subdivision 2. Exceptions. It is not necessary for the Council to advertise for bids for the following contracts:
(a) Professional services such as, but not limited to, engineers, attorneys, architects, or accountants;
(b) The purchase or lease of real estate;
(c) Insurance contracts;
(d) When the City is using a reverse auction or electronic purchasing process in which vendors compete to provide the supplies, materials, or equipment at the lowest selling price in an open and interactive environment;
(e) When the City is using an electronic sale of surplus supplies, materials, and equipment in which purchasers compete to purchase the surplus supplies, materials, or equipment at the highest purchase price in an open and interactive environment.
(Ord. 99-23, passed 11-8-1999; Ord. 05-10, passed 3-14-2005; Ord. 22-005, passed 3-28-2022)