A. 
All contracts in excess of the base amount of eighteen thousand five hundred dollars ($18,500.), except those hereinafter mentioned, shall be entered into only with the party submitting the lowest responsible bid after competitive bidding. In awarding bids, the Council may take into consideration such other factors as the availability, cost and quality of service. An annual inflationary adjustment clause to the bidding limits based on a positive change in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) with a 3 percent cap on the base shall be applicable to this Paragraph. The Council may, by ordinance, increase the base amount of eighteen thousand five hundred dollars ($18,500.) to the extent of the maximum permitted to any non-charter municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[Amended 7-10-1989 by Ord. No. 1418; 3-12-2012 by Ord. No. 2015[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided an effective date of 1-1-2012.
B. 
Prior to approval of any expenditure over one hundred dollars ($100.), the Council shall make available a list indicating the item purchased, the name of the vendor and the amount to be paid.
The Council shall establish comprehensive competitive bidding procedures as part of the Administrative Code,[1] including but not limited to requirements for advertisement for bids, bid deposits, bid conditions, withdrawal waivers exceptions and time limits.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 5, Administration of Government.
A. 
Competitive bidding shall not be required under this Charter for:
(1) 
Labor or services rendered by any official or employee of the city.
(2) 
Contracts where the purchase sought is available from only one (1) vendor.
(3) 
Contracts involving the acquisition or use of real property. The city can make exceptions to competitive bidding where city real or personal property is to be sold to county, city, borough, town, township home rule municipality, school district, Fire Department, volunteer or nonprofit ambulance service, volunteer or nonprofit rescue team or public library. Real property sold pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the condition that when the property is not used for the purposes of the conveyance, the property shall revert back to the city.
[Amended 6-13-1994 by Ord. No. 1625]
(4) 
Contracts for professional or personal services.
(5) 
Contracts for insurance or surety company bonds.
(6) 
Contracts necessitated by an emergency.
(7) 
Contracts with other governmental entities, authorities, agencies or political subdivisions.
(8) 
Contracts negotiated under comprehensive bidding procedures by a joint municipal purchasing group of which the city is a member.
B. 
In all cases where the Council enters into a contract without competitive bidding, the ordinances, resolution or motion authorizing the contract shall contain a statement specifying the factual base for invoking one (1) of the exceptions set forth in this section.
The Council shall not evade the provisions of § C-80 herein by purchasing or contracting piecemeal for the purpose of obtaining prices under those requiring competitive bidding upon transactions which should, in the exercise of reasonable discretion and prudence, be conducted as one (1) transaction requiring competitive bidding.
All bids submitted to the city, when such bids are over those specified in § C-80, shall be accompanied by a bid deposit in the form of a certified check or bid bond in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the bid price quoted.
When competitive bidding is required, the successful bidder shall be required to furnish a bond in one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price, guaranteeing the work to be completed and/or the equipment supplied under such awarded contract. In those cases where it is shown that such a performance bond is not commonly available, the Council may waive this requirement. The city shall comply with the Public Works Contractors' Bond Law of 1967.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 8 P.S. § 191 et seq.
When competitive bidding is required, a maintenance bond shall be submitted to the city naming the city as obligee in one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price or such other amount as deemed adequate by the Council to insure maintenance of all improvements, work and materials for a period of at least twenty-four (24) months or such other extended period of time as deemed necessary by the Council. In those cases where it is shown that such a maintenance bond is not commonly available, the Council may waive this requirement.
All bonds shall be issued by a bonding company that is licensed to do business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.