§ 2-167. Open market procedure

Except as provided in this article, purchases of supplies, equipment, contractual services and sales of personal property of an estimated value in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) or less, and in the case of public works projects in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) or less, may be made by the purchasing officer in the open market as follows without observing the procedure prescribed in section 2-166:

(a) Minimum number of bids. Open market purchases shall, whenever possible, be based on at least three (3) bids and shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.

(b) Request for bids. The purchasing officer shall solicit bids by written requests, telephone, facsimile or electronic mail, to prospective vendors, and by public notice posted on a public bulletin board in city hall.

(c) Written bids. Written bids shall be submitted to the purchasing officer who shall keep a record of all open market orders and bids for a period of one (1) year after the submission of bids or the placing of orders. This record, while so kept, shall be open to public inspection.

(Ord. No. 96-15, § 1, 12-2-96; Ord. No. 06-13, § 1, 6-20-06 )