Source: https://www.como.gov/finance/vendors/purchasing-ordinances/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 02:24:26+00:00

Document:
Sec. 2-209. – Purchasing division; established.
A purchasing division is established in the department of finance. The division is under the supervision of the purchasing agent.
Sec. 2-210. – Authority of purchasing agent.
Perform any other functions assigned by the city manager or the director of finance.
Editor’s note— Ord. No. 18178, § 2, adopted July 19, 2004, repealed former Art. X, in its entirety, and enacted provisions designated as a new Art. X to read as herein set out. Prior to inclusion of Ord. No. 18178, Art. X pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Code 1964, §§ 2.760, 2.770, 2.710, 2.720, 2.730, 2.740, 2.750, 2.780, 2.785, 2.787, 2.790, 2.795, 2.797; Ord. No. 10249, § 1, 8-6-84; Ord. No. 10789, § 1(2.797), 11-18-85; Ord. No. 12044, § 1, 10-3-88; Ord. No. 13511, § 1, 11-16-92; Ord. No. 14459 § 1, 4-17-95; Ord. No. 15267, § 1, 6-16-97; Ord. No. 15991, § 1, 5-3-99. See also the Code Comparative Table.
Cross reference— Powers and duties of finance director generally, § 2-208.
Sec. 2-458. – Scope of article; rules and procedures.
This article delegates authority to the city manager and the purchasing agent to contract for the purchase of supplies, materials, equipment and services. It does not impose procedural limitations on the city council or otherwise limit the power of the city council to contract for the purchase of supplies, materials, equipment and services.
The director of finance is authorized to establish rules and procedures for the purchasing division.
Sec. 2-459. – Authority of purchasing agent to contract.
Subject to the provisions of this article, the purchasing agent is authorized to contract for the purchase of supplies, materials, equipment and services for which appropriated funds are available.
Construction, upgrade or relocation of water distribution mains sixteen (16) inches or less in diameter that is estimated to cost less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) and that does not require the exercise of the power of eminent domain.
Public improvement projects falling within any of these categories may be contracted for under this subsection without following the public improvement process of Chapter 22. However, special assessment tax bills shall not be issued for any public improvement unless the public improvement process of Chapter 22 has been followed.
If a project with a cost limitation is bid under this subsection and the bid of the lowest and best, responsive and responsible bidder is for more than the authorized amount, the contract may be entered into only with the specific authorization of the city council.
The total amount of all change orders executed in connection with any contract for capital or public improvements authorized by this article shall not exceed fifteen (15) percent of the contract price without the written approval of the city manager.
When appropriated funds are available, the purchasing agent may contract for emergency work on public improvements and for repairs of public improvements requiring prompt attention without following the competitive bidding provisions of this article.
Sec. 2-460. – Bids and requests for proposals required; exceptions.
Except as otherwise provided in this article, all contracts for purchases of supplies, materials, equipment and services which have not been specifically authorized by the city council shall be entered into only after a competitive bidding process or a request for proposals process.
The purchasing agent may enter into contracts for emergency purchases without following a competitive bidding process or a request for proposals process. “Emergency purchases” are purchases necessitated by nonrecurring emergency situations posing a substantial danger to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens or of a risk of substantial financial loss to the city unless the required supplies, materials, equipment or services are obtained as expeditiously as possible. The department head requesting an emergency purchase shall certify that the purchase is an emergency within the meaning of this section by a memorandum which sets forth the nature of the emergency. If the purchasing agent and the department head do not agree that the proposed purchase is an emergency purchase, the matter shall be referred to the city manager for final decision.
The purchasing agent may enter into contracts with sole source suppliers and governmental entities without following a competitive bidding process or a request for proposals process. “Sole source suppliers” are suppliers of supplies, materials, equipment or services which are unique or which are not available from more than one (1) competitive source in the normal course of business. The purchasing agent shall certify in writing that each purchase from a sole source supplier under this subsection meets the requirements of this subsection.
The city manager may enter into contracts for professional and other services without following a competitive bidding process or a request for proposals process when factors such as prior experience, skills, education, local knowledge or unique knowledge are considerations in selecting the contractor. The city manager may waive attorney conflicts of interest if the manager determines that the waiver is in the city’s interest. This subsection shall not apply to contracts for auditing services for the annual fiscal audit or to contracts for architectural, engineering and land surveying services.
The purchasing agent may enter into contracts for specialized services relating to art conservation, restoration, archiving and installation without following a competitive bidding process or a request for proposals process when the required services are not widely available and when factors such as experience and local knowledge play an important role. The department head requesting these services shall document and certify that the proposed contract meets the requirements of this subsection.
The city manager and purchasing agent are encouraged to pursue informal bidding and requests for proposals in the above categories of exceptions whenever time and business conditions permit.
Sec. 2-461. – No contract to exceed five years.
The purchasing agent has no authority to contract for the purchase of any supplies, materials, equipment or services for a term exceeding five (5) years. The purchasing agent has no authority to extend the term of any contract for the purchase of any supplies, materials, equipment or services so that the length of the original term plus all extended terms exceeds five (5) years and three (3) months.
Sec. 2-462. – Procurement of architectural, engineering and land surveying services.
The city council may, by ordinance, establish special procedures and guidelines for procurement of architectural, engineering and land surveying services.
Sec. 2-463. – Sale of surplus material.
A department head having charge of any surplus, obsolete or unused supplies, materials or equipment may request the purchasing agent to dispose of the property. The purchasing agent is authorized to sell the property in any form of open market competition to the highest bidder. The purchasing agent may set a minimum sale price and may reject any bid that, in the purchasing agent’s judgment, is not a fair sale price.
The purchasing agent, with the approval of the city manager, is authorized to sell any surplus, obsolete or unused supplies, materials or equipment to any governmental entity without open market competition.
Sec. 2-466. – Bidding process; contracts for fifteen thousand dollars or more.
Except as otherwise provided in this article, the purchasing agent shall not contract for the purchase of any supplies, materials, equipment or services costing fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) or more unless the bidding process of this section has been followed.
The purchasing agent shall advertise for sealed bids in a newspaper of general circulation in the city at least five (5) days before the time set for opening bids. All bids must be sealed and addressed to the purchasing division and must be received by the purchasing division by 2:00 p.m. on the day specified in the advertisement for bids. The bids shall be opened by the purchasing agent at the purchasing agent’s office between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the day the bids are due, if practicable. If not practicable, then the bids shall be opened on the earliest day thereafter that the purchasing agent is able to open the bids. The purchasing agent may require bidders to deposit a cashier’s check or a certified check drawn on a solvent financial institution or a surety bond in an amount not less than five (5) percent of the bid. The deposit shall be forfeited to the city if the successful bidder fails or refuses to execute the contract.
The purchasing agent may use an electronic bidding system if the system is secure and allows the bids to be opened only at the time designated for bid opening.
The purchasing agent, after consulting with all affected departments and subject to the provisions of subsection (e), may reject any or all bids, may award the contract to the bidder that is, in the judgment of the purchasing agent, the lowest and best, responsive and responsible bidder, or may split the award between two (2) or more bidders if, in the judgment of the purchasing agent, it is in the best interest of the city to split the award.
Before taking any action on bids, the purchasing agent shall inform all affected departments of the purchasing agent’s proposed action. The head of any affected department who disagrees with the purchasing agent’s proposed action may inform the purchasing agent and the head of any other affected department of the disagreement. If, after conferring on the matter, the purchasing agent and the heads of all affected departments are unable to agree on an appropriate action on the bids, the matter shall be referred to the city manager for final decision.
Sec. 2-467. – Bidding process; contracts for five thousand dollars or more but less than fifteen thousand dollars.
Except as otherwise provided in this article, the purchasing agent shall not contract for the purchase of any supplies, materials, equipment or services costing five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) or more but less than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) unless the bidding process of this section or the bidding process of section 2-466 has been followed.
The purchasing agent shall solicit by telephone, written notice or otherwise at least three (3) bids, if three (3) independent vendors are available.
Bids shall be awarded or rejected as provided in section 2-466.
The purchasing agent shall keep a record of all solicitations made under this section.
Sec. 2-468. – Contracts for less than five thousand dollars.
The purchasing agent may contract for the purchase of any supplies, materials, equipment or services costing less than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) by following the provisions of section 2-467 or by making open market purchases from vendors with proven ability to furnish supplies, materials, equipment and services at the lowest and best price.
Sec. 2-469. – Procurement cards.
The purchasing agent may establish a procurement card policy that allows card holders to charge up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per transaction.
Sec. 2-470. – Plans, specifications and descriptions to be kept by purchasing agent.
When calling for bids, the purchasing agent shall keep on file the plans, specifications or descriptions of the article or service to be purchased. These plans, specifications or descriptions shall be available for public inspection. The purchasing agent may require a deposit for the return of plans or specifications taken from the office. The deposit shall not exceed the reasonable cost of preparing the plans or specifications.
Sec. 2-471. – Requests for proposals.
The purchasing agent may authorize a request for proposals process instead of a bidding process whenever the purchase of supplies, materials, equipment or services may be facilitated by such a process.
Sec. 2-472. – Cooperative purchasing.
The purchasing agent is authorized to participate in cooperative purchasing programs with the United States or any agency of the United States; with the State of Missouri or any agency, municipality or political subdivision of the State of Missouri; with other states or any agency, municipality or political subdivision of any other state; or with any association of municipalities or political subdivisions; provided, that the cooperative purchasing program follows a competitive bidding process.
Sec. 2-473. – Recycled and environmentally preferable products.
Environmentally preferable product means a product which by its chemical or physical nature has a less adverse impact on the environment when compared to a similar product with a different chemical or physical nature or a product whose manufacturing process is less harmful to the environment than the manufacturing process of an equivalent product.
Post consumer waste means material generated by a consumer which has served its intended end use and has been separated or diverted from the solid waste stream for the purpose of collection, recycling and disposition.
Recycled product means a product that utilizes recycled materials or materials diverted from the waste stream, including an appropriate amount of post consumer waste, in its manufacture and construction.
The cost of recycled product may exceed by up to ten (10) percent the lowest priced bid on a comparable product which does not utilize recycled materials.
The cost of an environmentally preferable product may exceed by up to five (5) percent the lowest priced bid on a comparable product which is not environmentally preferable.
In order to qualify for recycled consideration on paper and paper products, proposed stock must meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended minimum content standards of selected papers and paper products. Standards identifying the minimum content of recovered materials and products other than paper products shall be done on a case by case basis. The purchasing division shall utilize standards established by industry organizations, federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, nationally recognized standards organizations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials and state agencies.
All bidders who wish to receive a preference on products made with recycled materials must properly complete, sign and return with their bid a certification of product content.
The city manager is authorized to designate certain post consumer recycled materials for use in city projects to demonstrate and encourage the use of these products. Wherever possible, markers shall be erected listing the recycled content of the products. These products shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) annually.
Conviction of a criminal offense as an incident to obtaining or attempting to obtain a public or private contract or subcontract, or in the performance of such contract or subcontract.
Conviction under state or federal statutes of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, receiving stolen property, or any other offense indicating a lack of integrity or honesty which currently, seriously and directly affects responsibility as a city contractor or vendor.
Conviction under state or federal antitrust statutes arising out of the submission of bids or proposals.
Deliberate failure without good cause to perform in accordance with contract specifications or within the time limit provided in the contract.
A recent record of failure to perform or of unsatisfactory performance in accordance with the terms of one (1) or more contracts; provided that failure to perform or unsatisfactory performance caused by acts beyond the control of the contractor or vendor shall not be considered a basis for debarment.
The person is in arrears on any debt owed the city or has a history of being chronically in arrears on debts owed the city.
Any other cause so serious and compelling as to affect responsibility as a city contractor or vendor, including debarment by another governmental entity for any cause listed in this article.
The length of debarment shall not exceed three (3) years.
The purchasing agent shall initiate a debarment by serving written notice of the debarment to the person the purchasing agent intends to debar. The notice shall set forth the specific grounds for the debarment and advise the person of the right to appeal. The notice shall be served by registered or certified mail or by delivering a copy of the notice to the person subject to debarment or the person’s agent or employee. The debarment shall take effect ten (10) days after service of the notice unless an appeal is taken to the director of finance. If an appeal is taken, the debarment shall not take effect until a final order upholding the debarment is entered by the director or until the appeal is dismissed by the appellant.
Within ten (10) days after service of a written notice of debarment, the person affected by the notice may file a written request for a hearing before the director of finance contesting the debarment.
The director of finance shall set the matter for hearing on the record within thirty (30) days of the receipt of a request for a hearing. At least ten (10) days notice of the hearing shall be given to the affected person and to the purchasing agent.
At the hearing, each party shall have the right to call and examine witnesses, introduce exhibits, cross-examine opposing witnesses and impeach any witness. Oral evidence shall be taken on oath or affirmation. All evidence shall be suitably recorded and preserved. The technical rules of evidence shall not apply, but the director may exclude evidence which is irrelevant or repetitious. Each party shall be entitled to present oral arguments or written briefs at or after the hearing.
Within ten (10) working days of receipt of the transcript of the hearing, the director of finance shall make written findings of fact and conclusions of law and issue a final order. Findings of fact shall be based upon competent and substantial evidence found in the record as a whole. A copy of the director’s order, findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall be delivered or mailed to the purchasing agent and to the affected person.
An appeal from the director’s order shall be to the circuit court pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo.
Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the purchasing agent to accept the bid which in the judgment of the purchasing agent is the lowest and best bid, or to reject any or all bids or to reject a bid on grounds which could have been used to debar the bidder.
Sec. 2-475. – Contracts involving hazardous materials.
The history of the bidder in complying with federal and state environmental laws.
In awarding a contract involving the transportation, handling or disposal of hazardous materials, the purchasing agent shall award the contract to the bidder which the purchasing agent and the head of the department requesting the contract have determined to be the best bidder, regardless of whether that bidder has submitted the lowest bid. If the purchasing agent and the department head cannot agree, the matter shall be referred to the city manager for final decision.
Sec. 2-515. – Sale, trade or lease of real property.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, real property owned by the city may be sold, traded or leased only when authorized by ordinance and only after competitive bids have been obtained. The real property may be sold, traded or leased only to the person submitting the highest and best bid.
When the council determines that it is in the public interest to sell, trade or lease the property to a particular person.
The property was acquired by the city from the person seeking to lease the property.

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