A. Competitive Bidding. Council, by ordinance, shall establish a threshold amount, which in no case shall be less than $30,000, notice provisions and other procedures for competitive bidding. When any contract for the construction of a public improvement or the purchase of equipment, supplies, materials, or services is estimated to exceed the threshold established by Council, the contract shall be competitively bid. Council shall award the contract, by resolution, to the lowest and best bidder; provided, however, that Council may reject any and all bids in whole or by items. No contract shall be divided to avoid the requirements of competitive bidding.
B. Waiver of Competitive Bidding. Competitive bidding is not required if:
(1) The statutory or common law of the State does not require competitive bidding;
(2) Council determines that an item is available and can be acquired only from a single source or the purchase consists of services related to information technology that are proprietary or limited to a single source;
(3) The purchase is made through a cooperative purchasing program where the cost has already been set by bid;
(4) The purchase is from the federal government, the State, a county, a municipality, a township, a board of education or an educational service center;
(5) The purchase consists of any form of insurance or any form of health care plan; or
(6) Council determines, by resolution approved by an affirmative vote of no less than four (4) members, that a waiver of the competitive bidding requirement is in the best interest of the City or is necessary due to a real and present emergency.
C. Professional Services. Contracts for professional services shall not be subject to the competitive bidding requirements of this Section and shall not require separate authorization by Council if the current Annual Appropriation Ordinance provides sufficient funding for the scope of services in any such contract.
D. Alterations or Modifications of Contracts. Council shall, by ordinance, establish procedures for alteration or modifications of contracts. Such modification or alterations shall not require competitive bidding and shall not require separate authorization by Council if the current Annual Appropriation Ordinance provides sufficient funding for the alteration or modification.
E. No Interest on Escrow. Notwithstanding any provision of general law, contractors and vendors shall not be entitled to receive interest on funds temporarily retained on a contract pending final acceptance of work performed or goods supplied, nor shall the City be required to maintain a separate escrow account from which to pay any contractor or vendor.