§ 2-246. Small procurements.

Any procurement of less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) may be made on the open market without formal bidding. Such procurement, when practicable, shall utilize informal competitive procurement procedures, utilizing a competitive oral or written request for quotations for goods and services. Awards shall be made to the vendor providing the most value to the county. Procurements shall not be artificially divided so as to constitute a procurement of less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00).

(1)

The following are the guidelines to be used for formal and informal quoting:

a.

$2,500.00 or below—Purchase through purchase order or purchasing card as per purchasing card guidelines and procedures manual.

b.

$2,500.01 to $10,000.00—Department shall request three (3) or more written quotes which can include, but is not limited to, copies of internet pricing, and receive prior approval of department director or county administrator authorized designee by purchase order or purchasing card. Departments shall follow the local business program process in notifying vendors of all quote opportunities.

c.

$10,000.01 to $50,000.00—Department shall request, in writing, that the procurement services department solicit written quotes from vendors using county vendor files and the local business program files. Department shall issue a requisition or utilize a purchasing card and receive prior approval from the department head and assistant county administrator or county administrator authorized designee.

d.

All purchases five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) and over shall be approved by department director or his/her designee, and by finance and procurement. Purchases shall have prior documented approval by memo, email or approval in the electronic requisition system, by the department head.

e.

All purchases twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) and over shall have prior documented approval by memo, email or approval in the electronic requisition system by the department director or his/her authorized designee, the county administrator or assistant county administrator or his/her authorized designee, finance and procurement.

f.

All purchases, with the exception of emergency purchases described in this article, fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) and over shall be approved by the department director or his/her authorized designee, the county administrator or assistant county administrator or his/her authorized designee, finance, procurement and the board of county commissioners at a regularly scheduled board of county commissioners meeting under the procurement services consent agenda.

(Ord. No. 11-52, § 1, 9-20-2011; Ord. No. 15-12, § 1H, 8-18-2015; Ord. No. 18-06, § 1L, 2-20-2018)